One of the great Gaels of West Wicklow, Tommy Tipper of Valleymount passed to his eternal reward on Monday. As a player, referee and administrator Tommy had few equals. He served his club Valleymount as secretary for 38 years and only retired when his health began to fail. He was the 'Village Blacksmith' and most other things in the community as well. The GAA was the great love of his life and he devoted every minute of his spare time to the promotion of the games, first as a player with the Lakeside club, then as a referee, and at one stage in his life he was the 'man in the middle' at most if not all matches in West Wicklow. He also served as Vice-Chairman of the old West Wicklow Board of the GAA. Tommy saw the good days and the lean times, but took all in his stride. He was not around when Granabeg brought the only Senior title to the parish in 1923 but he was very much part of the scene when his own team won the Junior championship in 1963 and Intermediate championships in '64 and again in '78. The last of the many cups that Tommy drank out of was the Miley Cup when it was brought to Baltinglass hospital and caring centre recently by the Kiltegan team. Our sympathy to his bereaved family and community. Wicklow People, 26th November 2008 Tweet

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