The late Liam Higgins The passing of Liam Higgins of Lispole, was expected as he had battled, as only he could, with cancer for months. But to be honest, when the call from Weeshie came early on that Sunday morning with the sad and simple news - "he's gone." I was shocked and sad, shocked because the death of a friend no matter whether expected or not does overcome us mere mortals; deeply saddened because I knew that a loyal and true person, that knew no boundaries when it came to helping those of us who required help in our daily struggle with life had passed from our midst. Liam Higgins was my work colleague in Radio Kerry since its launch in 1990, he was instrumental in my becoming Head of Sport, through his encouragement advice, and his words to me "God, Seamusheen, the job must be yours, apply and have a cut." Liam was the voice of Radio Kerry Sport - through his wonderful passionate voice in bringing the game of football, its players, followers was second to none. He and his great friend Weeshie Fogarty became in my opinion the greatest duo of commentators on Gaelic games that the sport has known - Liam Higgins was a legend. The GAA in Kerry are in his debt surely in a huge way, in fact the GAA worldwide owe him great words of gratitude, not alone did he win Munster, All-Ireland and National football league medals at senior level but through his work on Radio Kerry he promoted the sport hugely in all other places, his views of games were sought after by other commentators and he told it as it was. His devotion to his club Lispole, winning with them the six-in-a-row is well documented, how he loved that club - and indeed West Kerry. But surely it was his work for the GAA in his job as a teacher in Dingle CBS made him a man apart. For 30 odd years he coached, cajoled and encouraged, the youngsters to play the game of football, and when the school won an All-Ireland title in 1995, Liam Higgins told me it was the greatest moment in Gaelic football. That Croke Park stands today as it is a great stadium is due in no small way to Liam. There was a man that in sunshine, rain, snow and hail, had broadcasted a match standing on a chair way back in 1991. He had done reports on the first mobile phones (remember the ones that were really like a sod of turf) in all kinds of weather, these were just reports. But in the early days of local radio when the link between the ground and studio was broken (a technical fault), Liam continued with the commentary on mobile phone. His energy in getting the games of the Gaelic to all corners of Kerry and beyond, simply knew no bounds. Liam had many brushes with authority, he could give a Sports Editor palpitations, just by telling it as it was - and maybe more. But he had the greatest attribute that I think anyone can have, he never carried a grudge. Liam was a member of that great non political party F.F. he was a footballer and a fisherman - I will miss those fresh mackerel! The Indians of the Great Plains of the West in America, believed that man and nature are the one, that when we pass on to the spirit world, we will truly realise this. Liam Higgins, had a great love of the outdoors, shooting, fishing, walking. But he treated nature kindly - fish for what you want - shoot what you require, waste not the food that nature gives you. He bemoaned to me on a few occasions the slow death of the Rain Forests by saying there would be a price to pay in years to come. Talking and thinking of the Old West - was there a song by Gene Autry at one stage that had the line "Where never is heard a discouraging word." That was Liam Higgin's way of thanking, encouraging people to do better especially the youth as he used to say "they surely are our future". Liam donated his wordly remains to science, and as the hearse pulled away from the Church in Dingle, to huge applause, a Lispole native strolling next to me, stated sadly that it was a pity that we will have no grave to visit to remember Liam. Worry not my friend, everytime we trun on the radio on match day, everytime we pass a ground where a GAA ball is being kicked in earnest, on All-Ireland final day, County final day, the tiny tots days at our own clubs, we will think fondly of Liam Higgins. To his mother Neil, his brothers, his sisters, his partner Helen, his wife Liz and their children, his grandchildren, his legion of friends, I extend my deepest sympathy and leave you with the words of Pope John Paul II: "Our departed ones continue to live among us not only because … their lives memory is part of our lives but especially because their souls intercede for us with God - I am happy and you should be happy too - do not weep. Let us pray together with joy". God be with you Liam. Written by Seamus O'Mahony One of West Kerry's best known sons Liam Higgins (61) died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday night after a long battle with cancer. Following the news of his untimely death tributes and messages of sympathy to his family poured in to media outlets in the county. Liam Higgins was widely admired as a teacher, sportsman and sports commentator. His prowess on the field began to attract national attention while he was a student at UCG, according to Michael O Muircheartaigh. "Liam became famous for his football when he was doing his degree at UCG. That's where he first came to the notice of a lot of people - playing Siegerson football with the college. I first saw him playing for West Kerry at a match in Dingle. He was marking Donie O'Sullivan who was in his prime and people began to see Liam's potential for a future Kerry team," Mr O Muircheartaigh told the Kerryman on Tuesday. "Then he played in 1969 and 1970 in a very good full-forward line of Mick Gleeson, Liam and Mick O'Dwyer. You often hear people talking about a line and that was rated a very good Kerry team that won two All-Irelands. The team was made up of new players like Liam and the old like Mick O'Connell, Seamus Murphy, Johnny Culloty and Mick O'Dwyer. "Liam was always a Lispole man. Lispole had a lot of success from the 70s onwards and Liam played a big part in that success. He was also a selector with the Kerry team and a good selector because he travelled to games all over the county as a radio commentator. He was with Radio Kerry na Gaeltachta first and later with Radio Kerry. He knew a lot of players and was a good man to spot a player," he recalled. Mr Higgins had recently retired from teaching commerce and accountancy at Dingle CBS since being appointed there in the late 1960s. His fellow teacher and close friend, Joe Creedon, greatly admired the Lispole man's dedication to his work. "He had a great sense of professionalism and honour about his work as a teacher. He was professional to his fingertips. He had an excellent rapport with the students. He was their teacher in class and one of themselves outside the school. He commanded huge respect and he always said respect must be commanded. "Something else about Liam that a lot of people wouldn't be aware of is that he had a great love of singing. He loved singing but didn't have a voice himself which was always a huge regret of his. He loved traditional Irish singing and he got huge enjoyment from Cor Chul Aodh at Darragh O Se's wedding a few weeks ago," Mr Creedon told The Kerryman. Apart from his time teaching at the CBS Liam was also very involved in extra-curricular activities with the school, especially football. Under his guidance the CBS won two All-Ireland Championships - the first time the school ever attained such success. He was also fiercely proud of his brother Joe's success as a politician. Apart from football his other great sporting interest was with the local gun club and he was considered to be deadly accurate with a shotgun. Bernard O'Sullivan from John Street in Dingle said he admired Liam for his ability to get as much enjoyment as possible from every event and occasion. "Liam was a gregarious character, full of life and full of fun. He was a very intelligent guy. When I was involved with Kerry and West Kerry you'd love to be in his company, win lose or draw. When he was playing with Lispole he gave it his all. Lispole won their six-in-a-row and we were at the losing end of most of those encounters. I had the misfortune of marking him on most of those occasions. He was full-forward and I was full-back and it was always a tough encounter. But you had to admire the man because when the game was over he'd come over and shake hands and that was the end of it. He always left it on the field, " he said. By Ted Creedon St Mary's Church in Dingle could not accommodate the huge crowds who attended Requiem Mass for the late Liam Higgins on Tuesday afternoon. For over three hours on the previous evening, hundreds of mourners paid their last respects to Liam and his family at O'Connor's funeral home on the Mail Road, Dingle. In a rare departure from other funerals his coffin was shouldered to the church from the funeral home. CBS teachers and students, as well as some students from the Presentation Convent, formed a guard of honour on the Mall, in front of the CBS, where Liam had taught for almost 40 years. There were moving tributes, in song and word, during the funeral Mass which was celebrated by Fr Pat Moore. The Taoiseach was represented by his Aide-de-Camp, Comdt. Michael Murray. Liam's brother Joe Higgins TD spoke of Liam's love of football which the family played in Ballineetig. He recalled how, as a youngster, Liam would give a running-commentary on the game, even as he was playing. Radio Kerry sports commentator Weeshie Fogarty, who always partnered Liam on the station's live match coverage, spoke of his late friend's indomitable spirit. He recalled his astonishment and admiration of Liam's decision, while very ill, to commentate on this year's All-Ireland final from Croke Park. In a very moving final tribute the congregation heard an excerpt from Liam's final radio commentary at the September All-Ireland final. Liam's youngest son, Liam Og, also paid tribute to his late father at the Mass. Family members shouldered the coffin, which was draped with Lispole, West Kerry and Kerry jerseys, to the waiting hearse outside. The remains, donated to medical research, were later removed to Cork. Liam Higgins is survived by his mother Nell; brothers Tom and Joe; sisters Mary, Nora, Teresina, and Helen; his wife Liz; sons Cian and Liam Og; daughters Jacqui and Eileen; grandchildren Olivia, Aoife, Sam and Naoise; and partner Helen. Written by Ted Creedon. Courtesy of The Kerryman 15 November 2006 Tweet

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