Syddan pay tribute to the late Kevin Clare
July 17, 2018
Kevin Clare fourth from right back row with the 1952 Meath junior team.
Sympathy is extended to the Clare family following the sad death of Kevin last Sunday morning.
Kevin who was a member of the great Syddan teams of the late 1940s and 1950s, was also a life long supporter and club president at the time of his death.
He wore the green and gold of Meath and was right half back on the team that won the All-Ireland junior football title in 1952. That proved to be a most memorable 12 months on the playing field for Kevin as Syddan completed a senior championship and Feis Cup double.
Kevin won his first senior championship medal in 1949 and was also part of the team that captured the senior title again in 1951. He lined out at midfield in 1951 and was wing back when Syddan overcame Skryne in the 1952 decider.
Then when the Keegan Cup returned to the parish for the first and only time in 1956 Kevin was at full forward as Skryne were again defeated in the decider.
''So here's to dear old Syddan,
And Syddan men of old
And all the brilliant wearers
Of the peerless 'green and gold'
Syddan's name on the Keegan Cup
Proudly we will fix
For they're the county champions
Of nineteen fifty six''
A minute's silence was observed in Kevin's memory at Sunday's league final between Syddan and Oldcastle. Ironically the trophy for this competition is named after the great Kevin McConnell, a man Kevin lined out alongside on numerous occasions
Kevin who was in his 87th year was a loved member of a family steeped in north Meath GAA history. He was predeceased by his wife Annie less than a month ago.
Kevin is survived by his children Linda, Donal, Eimear, Kevin, Ann-Marie, Philomena and Mary, sisters Theresa and Phyllis and his brother Myles, sisters in law, brother in law, daughters in law, sons in law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Son Donal was an outstanding footballer with a terrific left foot. Barely out of the minor ranks he lined out as a half forward on the talented Meath senior team which went all the way to the 1976 Leinster decider, going under narrowly to the great Dublin side of that era. Shortly after Donal emigrated to the US.
Funeral Details
Reposing at Moorehall Lodge Nursing Home Ardee on Tuesday, the 17th, from 4pm until 8pm. Removal Wednesday morning (family only please) to the Church of The Holy Cross, Lobinstown, arriving for 11am Mass. Burial afterwards in adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations if desired to Ardee Hospice Home Care c/o Byrne's Funeral Directors.
