Last week Manor-Kilbride lost one of the outstanding members of its community with the passing of Noel Bealin. Noel was a great GAA man all his life and was a founder/member of the Kilbride club. Back in 1954 Noel, along with his brother John, Jimmy Craul, Paddy, Jimmy and Tommy Clarke and others he set out to get a GAA club going again in the village. History will vindicate that move. The Kilbride soon became a household name throughout Wicklow and South County Dublin. They won a first Junior title in '58 and Senior titles in '62 and '68 with Noel as one of the prime movers. He was credited with bringing great trainers like Peter O'Reilly and Gerry Fitzgerald to the Village. The members of the club afforded him a guard of honour at his removal to Manor Kilbride church on Wednesday night and again at the burial ceremony in the local cemetery on Thursday. Noel was uncle of Dublin All-Ireland medal winner and well known coach Paul Bealin. Our sympathy to his bereaved family. Wicklow People, 26th November 2008 Tweet

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