The Late Mick Galvin Sweet Aghadoe was bathed in glorious unseasonal sunshine, while far below Lock Lein nestled snugly under a soft blanket of low cloud, which can a million shadows on its sparkling waters. However, we had not gathered to savour the awesome beauty of the place, but sadly to bid our last farewell to our dear friend and childhood companion Mick Galvin. Mick had fought the good fight, and when the end came he faced death with the same calmness, fortitude and dignity which typified his life. The throngs that attended the wake, funeral and funeral Mass, bore eloquent testimony of the esteem in which he was held by his friends from the business and sporting worlds. Mick was born into a sporting family. Each of his brothers, Mort (RIP), John and Jerh played football for Sneem and Dr Crokes and were also extremely talented athletes. This at a time when the annual sports was the highlight of the sporting year in almost every parish in the county. Being the youngest of the family, Mick couldn't help but be imbued with a burning desire to play football. The skills he learned from watching and later playing with his brothers were honed to perfection during the years he spent in Sacred Heart College Cork. Strangely enough, even though he made his name as a most talented and skillful forward, his first game for Sneem seniors was as a 16 year old wing back. He was in his best position of centre forward when Sneem dominated football in the Kenmare Division in the late '40s. His selection on the Kerry minor panel in 1948 came at a time when it was most unusual for anyone from the periphery of the county to be picked. He was also the star forward of the team which was unluckily defeated by Armagh in the All-Ireland final of 1949. Mick went to UCC in 1950 and immediately made a huge impact on college football. Together with the late Paudie Sheehy, Dr Jim Brosnan, Bobbie Buckley and Denis Bernard of Cork, he was a member of a team of stars which won the Sigerson Cup. His displays in the Cork county championship, and in particular one famous game against Collins Barracks when he led the great John Cronin (RIP) a merry dance, are still discussed when alumni meet. The Cork junior selection weren't slow to act, and he and fellow Kerryman Tom Moriarty were the stars of the side which won the All-Ireland in 1951. Cork senior selectors had him in their plans for 1952 but instead Mick returned to play with Sneem and was a member of the Kenmare divisional team which lost the 1952 county final to John Mitchels. When the family business moved base to Killarney, Mick joined Dr Crokes and even though the coveted county championship medal evaded him, he did win O'Donoghue Cup medals in the company of his great friends Taghgie Lyne and Mícheál Ó Connchúir, both also imithe ar slí na fírinne. Mick had the skill and ability to be a permanent fixture on the Kerry senior team, so why didn't he realise his ambition? Well, he was selected on the team that played Cavan in the league semi-final of 1950. Football at that time was much more physical than now and Cavan were one of the top teams, with brilliant forwards and very uncompromising backs, hardly the ideal conditions for a youth of barely 19 to make his debut, In addition to his many fine qualities, Mick was also fearless and the punishment he suffered in that game had long lasting effects. In hindsight, those who counselled caution and advised waiting a year or two were maybe right. In his beautiful homily at the funeral Mass, Fr Roin O'Leary said the word which really described Mick was "loyalty," and how right he was. Mick was loyal to his friends, to Dr Crokes and to his native Sneem, to his family, but most of all to his beloved wife and best friend, Ronnie. He always rejoiced in the successes of Kerry, Dr Crokes and Sneem on the football field. He was very proud of the achievements of his children Miriam and John, and nothing gave him greater pleasure than that glorious St Patrick's Day in Croke Park, when John played a starring role in Dr Crokes victory in the All-Ireland Club Championship. In his latter years his grandchildren, Dylan and Gary, were his pride and joy. Mick was a great churchman and a man of deep faith, and this helped him greatly during his final illness. This faith carried him through the good times and the bad during 30 years of a very happy marriage. He will be sadly missed by his many friends, his extended family, his children and grandchildren, but mostly by Ronnie. Farewell old friend, the word will be a poorer place without you. May the sod of beautiful Aghadoe rest lightly on you, agus go dti go gcasamar le chéile arís, fé choimirche Dé go raibh tú. By Gerald Hussey, Sneem Courtesy of the Kerryman January 2003 Tweet

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