Mick O'Dwyer is mourning the death of his wife Mary Carmel.

Aged 71, Mrs O'Dwyer passed away at in the Bons Secours Hospital in Tralee yesterday evening following a long battle with illness. She ran the Villa Maria Hotel with her famous husband in Waterville for many years and was happy to stay out of the limelight during Micko's glittering playing and managerial career.

"The community will be extremely saddened to hear the passing of Mary Carmel," Waterville parish priest Fr John Kerin said in The Irish Daily Star.

"She was a dedicated wife, mother and businesswoman and possessed great energy. She was also devoted to prayer and was a regular Mass-goer and will be sorely missed by the parish.

"She was a strong Kerry supporter, but wasn't keen on attending the big matches and preferred to stay at home and watch them on television."

Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan, who captained the Mick O'Dwyer-managed Kerry to All-Ireland glory in 1981, said Mary Carmel was the legendary manager's rock.

"She really was the rock that Micko survived, thrived and prospered. She was the one who ensured their businesses were kept going when he was away," he told The Irish Independent.

"They had a very good relationship that was as strong in the end as it was in the beginning. She was a very strong woman who was never affected by Micko's high profile but very much her own woman and she was respected for that independence."

Mary Carmel is survived by Micko and their four sons John, Micheal and twins Robbie and Karl (the latter played in the 1998 All-Ireland final for Kildare against Galway). Tweet

Most Read Stories