The late Tom Golden The Desmonds club extends its sincerest sympathy to the Golden family of Riverside Drive following the death of Tom after a short illness. Here, Castleisland club secretary Colm Kirwan pays tribute, on behalf of the club, to the late Mr Golden. Tom Golden a native of Cree, Co clare came to Castleisland in 1968 when he replace the late Gerry O'Shea as one of our local gardai and he served on the force until 1995. Deeply steeped in the traditions of the GAA and rural Ireland he quickly immersed himself in the club where working with great energy and dedication with the juvenile section. Tom will always be associated, in many people's minds, with the mini Massey Ferguson tractor as he diligently cut the field in preparation for matches. He always epitomised the great voluntary community commitment that is the hallmark of the GAA. Who could afford to pay him for the hours upon hours that he put into the maintenance of the pitch? But it was done because it had to be done and all without the slightest exception of reward of recognition. He was to serve his club and community in so many other varied ways. He played in the goals for the senior team in the early 1970s and his abilities and dedication were to be utilised as secretary of the Castleisland district board for many years. He also became one of the best-known and respected referees in Kerry, officiating at North Kerry, county minor and intermediate finals. The pinnacle of his career with the whistle came in 1990 when he took charge of the county senior final. He subsequently swapped the whistle for the white coat and he was to officiate at many great games at the iconic venues of the GAA from Cork to Clones and Croker. In 2005 he was a member Aidan Mangan's team to officiate at the Dublin v Tyrone epic championship match. He last officiated at a match, on February 24, 2007, in Cork when Tyrone took on the Rebel county. Desmonds chairman Jim Greaney, in extending the clubs sympathy to his wife, Mary, and to his sons Alan (Waterford); Kenneth (Chicago) and Damien (Australia) said that the Club owed the family a great debt of gratitude for a lifetime of commitment. "Without the Tom Goldens of this world, clubs like the Desmonds and national institutions like the GAA could not function," said Mr Greaney. Courtesy of The Kerryman 18 April 2007 Tweet

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