The late John O'Toole John O'Toole, Sycamore Lodge, School Heights, Carnew, who died at the age of 68 years, was a man with with a passion for horses and gaelic games. He played hurling and football for his native Carnew Club and was a highly regarded and successful horse breeder and trainer. He died on June 12, 2006, after a year long battle with cancer, an illness he bore with great courage and battled against with great determination. In that fight against cancer he had the unwavering support of his devoted wife Margaret who cared for him throughout his illness. John grew up with a love of horses and from his youth would have worked at Carnew stud, the home place, looking after the Stallions. In the 50s and 60s the Stud was very successful at the prestigious Dublin Horse show and one of the stallions, Poly Glyde, won the Croker Cup on seven occasions. John O'Toole was them to branch out on his own, setting up his own successful horse breeding and training business, with Union Road probably being his most successful racer, winning at many point-to-point meets including Coollattin and Cork. John O'Toole was passionate about gaelic games, regarded as probably more skillful at football then hurling. He own junior championship medals with Carnew in the 50s and also played senior hurling team before they became a championship winning force from the late 1960s onwards. He was acknowledged as being the anchor man of Carnew football teams, he invariably did all the work while others reaped the credit for getting the scores. He got involved with looking after juvenile teams in the Carnew Club and was a shrewd trainer. Carnew won ever conceivable honour at under-age level during his tenure and afterwards many of the players he trained went on to win numerous championship medals with Carnew senior teams. He was a team selector when Carnew won the senior championship double, hurling and football, in 1973. Members of the Carnew GAA Club provided the guard of honour at his funeral. John O'Toole was a man with a heart of gold. Always lending a helping hand to those in need, he was a good neighbour and loyal friend; and his generosity of spirit and friendship was reciprocated. His passing is mourned by his wife Margaret; sons Thomas and James; brothers, Austin and Joe; sister, Margo; brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and he is also sadly missed by his nieces and nephews, relatives and large circle of friends. His remains were brought to Carnew Church and burial took place in Tomacork Cemetery after Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr. Martin Casey, PP., assisted by Fr. Matt Brennan, a retired priest originally from Carnew who ministered in America. Fr. Tom Little PP., Askea, Carlow; Fr. Jim O'Connell and Fr. John Singleton, Fr. John Dunphy, PP. Courtesy of the Wicklow People 22 June 2006 Tweet

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