Staunton, Noel
March 02, 2011Noel was a great GAA man and was involved in hurling, football and camogie for most of his life.
After his wife Ann and family his great love in life was hurling. His collection of hurling championship medals takes some beating.
He won Minor in 1964; Junior in 1971 and Senior in 75 with his native Glenealy.
After marrying Ann and moving to live in West Wicklow he completed his 'grand slam' by winning the intermediate Championship with Kiltegan in 1981.
He was top scorer for the club with 7-17 that year.
In a strange twist of fortune he won his first hurling championship in the U14 grade, beating St Tegan's (Kiltegan) in the final in 1958 and his last while playing for Kiltegan 23 years later. Noel got all, or nearly all, his scores from play.
He was a great goal grabber and apart from the seven he scored for Kiltegan, he scored 3-1 in his first Minor final in '63 but lost to Carnew in the final. In the Minor final of '64 he was also top scorer with two goals against St Kevin's.
He played football for Stratford and trained the team to win the IFC in 1983 and so collected his football medal. Later he threw in his lost with Donard Camogie Club and trained the girls to win every championship from U-12 to to senior.
Noel also wore the Wicklow jersey at Minor and Senior level and won a NHL medal in the 81/82 season.
A guard of honour at Davidstown Church on Wednesday night was provided by many of the players he had trained or played alongside, mostly from Donard/Glen Camogie Club and Stafford footballers.
Noel was laid to rest in lovely Leitrim in the heart of the Glen Imaal, surely a cemetery in the most beautiful surrounds in Ireland.
The lofty Wicklow mountains for a back drop and looking down on the ruins of what was Leitrim Castle.
Our sympathy to his wife Ann, son Kevin, daughters Carmel and Carol, mother, brothers, sister and extended family.
Courtesy of the Wicklow People
2nd March 2011 Tweet
