The Late Michael Nihill His many friends of Clare and the Newport area of South Wales his week mourned the loss of Michael Nihill of Shallee Drive, Ennis. Aged 69 years, he was one of the best known and most colourful personalities on the GAA scene and he spent much of life in promoting and supporting hurling and football here and in Great Britain. A great and proud Ennis native, he was brought up in the Causeway area of the town, just across the road from Cusack Park where he spent much of his spare time in his youth. The only son of the late Michael and Elizabeth Nihill, he was educated at Ennis CBS, played hurling locally and after school years he and a few friends undertook the promotion of hurling in the capital town. In 1952 they formed a new club, St John's which was aimed specifically at the promotion of under-age hurling in the town. The club proved to be an outstanding success, winning county juvenile titles every year. The club dominated the scene to much over the years that the then Bord na nÓg took steps which gave other clubs an advantage when playing against St. John's. Michael, popularly known as Nuggy, left Ennis in 1955 when he was 16 years of age to work in the bar business in London and while there he continued to play hurling and was a regular visitor to the Ruislip GAA headquarters in London. He also kept a sharp eye on all GAA happenings in his native town and county and letters from him, which appeared in the columns of The Clare Champion, deplored the lack of support for Ennis teams. He also put forward his own plan for improving hurling in the town. After a few years he made his way to Newport in South Wales, where he continued in the bar business in charge of the Cambrian Cumberland, St Mary's Social Clun in Stow Hill, the Red Lion, also in Stow Hill and lastly the Corporation Hotel in Corporation Street. In particular, the Red Lion and Corporation Hotel were popular meetings places for Clare people in the 1960s and 1970s. While in Newport he involved himself in the Pride of Erin GAA Club and in the late 1960s he became manager of the Gloucestershire Hurling Club. He was proud to welcome members of Ennis Rugby Football Club on the occasion of their friendly games with Aberavon Green Stars and was also instrumental in Newport Corporation giving a reception for Ennis RFC in the Guild Hall. Michael achieved a life-long ambition in 1975 when he returned home with his family and his Welsh-born wife, Maureen Gardner, from Cymbran near Newport, to set up his own bar business after buying TV Honan's in O'Connell Square, one o the best-known licensed premises in County Clare. He and Maureen ran a thriving enterprise until they decided to retire from business some years ago. Since then Michael spent some time as a taxi driver. On his return home he quickly got involved in the GAA. He was a huge Clare and Eire Óg supporter and was a former PRO with Clare County Board. He was also a selector for the Clare U-21 hurling team and was a prominent figure in the Clare GAA Supporters Club. And while the Clare victories in the late 1970s were proud moments for him, their success in winning the All-Irelands in 1995 and 1997 were special. He frequently made return trips to Newport to renew acquaintances with old friends. His last trip there was in October 2008 to attend a friend's funeral. He had made arrangements to travel to the Ireland-Wales rugby game in Cardiff on March 21 last but he had to cancel the trip at the last minute on medical grounds. Michael was a tremendously popular and widely known personality and there was a big turnout for the removal of his remains from Daly's mortuary chapel to Ennis Cathedral. On the way, there was a pause outside Michael's former bar in O'Connell Square and at the Old Ground Hotel where his wife is an employee, Mary Gleeson, manager and staff paid their own tribute. At the cathedral the remains were received by Bishop Willie Walsh, assisted by Fr Jerry Carey. Member of Eire Óg GAA club formed a guard of honour on both days of the funeral. The attendance included Newport friends Johnny Guilfoyle, who is a native of County Kilkenny, Kerry man John Joe Carey and Kilrush town native Mickey Hanrahan. Fr Harry Bohan, Sixmilebridge, a close friend of Michael through Clare GAA, was chief celebrant of the funeral mass. He welcomed the Welsh contingent and remarked that they also came to England last week to see Michael. In his tribute, Fr Bohan said that Michael was a person who lived life to the full. He had a deep love for GAA games and indeed his life revolved around sport. He had deep values and he wanted to salute Michael as an honourable man. He was also a decent and honest man and a man of integrity. He loved Clare hurling and football was passion. The past year was a difficult one for Michael as regards his health but he faced death bravely. Paul Nihill, on behalf of the family, thanked people for their kindness and Emmet Moloney read a poem which Michael Nilhill composed some years ago, recalling his early days in London. After mass the funeral took place in Drumcliffe cemetery where the graveside prayers were recited by Fr Martin Blake, Ennis. Irish traditional tunes were played at the graveside by local musicians Siobhán Peoples, Liam Murphy and PJ King. Michael is survived by his wife, Maureen, sons Michael junior, Seán and Paul, daughter Clare, grandchildren, Sarah, Ruth and James Michael, daughters-in-law, relatives and many friends. Courtesy of The Clare Champion 15th May 2009 Tweet

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