The late Cornelius (Con) Michael Curran 1917-2008 Con Michael Curran, Portmagee. passed away peacefully at Valentia Hospital in the company of some of his good old friends and family. Some 90 years old, he had lived a long and fruitful life. Con Michael was born on September 26,1917 in Portmagee. He lived for most of his life in the house his father (named Con also) built on the new road, Portmagee. He was brought up on the farm with his three sisfers (Mary-Bride Kathy and Anna) and eventually took over the farm from his father. He made a living bv combining agriculture with fishing - he was as at home on a boat as he was on dry land. Con Michaei worked very hard and did not have a lazy bone in his body. He was always willing to help a neighbour when a cow was calving, or at hay, turf or digging a garden. He fished mainly around the waters of his local south west coast and sometlmes ventured farther afield up along the west coast lobster fishing near Doonbeg in County Clare and along the south east coast fishing for herring near Dunmore east in County Waterford. He rowed in the Seine boats at regattas; he won lots of races. He often recalled one that was very closely contested in Valentia in 1954. Football though was the love of his life; he played with Skellig Rangers football club up Imtil the age of 46. He also won the South Kerry championship vcith Skellig Rangers in 1946. He also played with a team mainly made up of players from Skellig Rangers and Dromid Pearses in 1954 that reached the Kerry County Championship semi-final. They then drew the semi-final twice before losing out eventually to Mid-Kerry. In his later years he never missed a football match or a regatta. He always supported Skellig Rangers at all ages from under 12 right up to senior. One of his happiest moments was when Skellig Rangers brought the Jack Murphy cup back to Portmagee in 2006. Con never gave out to any of the players and had the utmost respect for referees! He was greatly honoured to be the President of the club for nearly the last 10 years and recently elected South Kerry Football Board President. He married his wife Mary Margaret, a local girl from the neighbourhood. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2007 with family and friends. He had 14 children, 31 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Con Michael was predeceased by his sister Mary-Bride and his nephew Jimmy Murphy. He will be dearly missed as a dedicated football supported and especially by his large extended family. He enjoyed life and died happy. God Rest Him. Tweet

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