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Sean Kelly, Uachtar?n CLG, addressed the family and friends of Tim Kennelly at his removal in Listowel on Friday night, describing the former All-Ireland winner as "a man who was a giant of his generation" but who "had those most cherished attributes ? greatness allied to humility".
The following is then full text of the President's address.
"Any of us who grew up in the Kingdom of Kerry have football running through our veins. From the time we reached the age of reason, and right through our formative years, football was part of the oxygen of our lives; consuming our thoughts, shaping our character and in many cases helping to chart our destiny.
The icons of our county, the revered and chosen ones are not those who have achieved fame, fortune and acclaim through conventional barometers and measurements applied in other lands. No, they are the men who have for over a century walked tall and proud in our beloved Green and Gold. They are the men who have exemplified the tradition of Kerry with displays of skill, courage and passion for the honour of their people and county. They are the men who brought glory and honour to the county. They are the men who gilded the legacy bestowed on them by the Almighty and previous generations and who handed the flame faithfully to the next generation to thrill and enthral us in a tradition enhanced.
"Indeed, I see many such men here in my presence tonight. We are amongst the members of the GAA extended family and Tim Kennelly?s family and friends to pay our respects to Tim, a man who was a giant of his generation and a man who earned a place amongst the Pantheon of greats.
"Tim wore the Green and Gold at all levels and won a multiplicity of honours at club, county, provincial and indeed national levels. When he burst on the scene in 1975, a year in which he won an U21 and senior All-Ireland, Tim quickly made the centre back position his own. He was the rock on which Kerry?s defence was built. In many ways he was the catalyst to the unprecedented success of a team without parallels. Tall, strong, brave, uncompromising and unsuspectingly skilful, Tim was the prototype and the embodiment of the Kerry defender.
"Tim Kennelly did not just achieve folk hero and football deity status in Kerry. Through his brilliance and honesty on the field and his open and endearing qualities in life, Tim was loved and admired right through the country and beyond. Unassuming, warm, compassionate and friendly, Tim had those most cherished attributes ? greatness allied to humility.
"We all have fond memories of the 70?s and 80?s ? the Golden Era of Kerry football. We all have favourite cameos which are indelibly etched in our memories. When these games are spoken of, the name of Tim Kennelly and his jousts with Tony Hanahoe always feature ? they are the stuff of legend, part of the colourful tapestry that is the chronicle of the GAA. Is it any wonder when men like P?id? O S? and Jimmy Deenihan speak in awe of some of the clashes, mere mortals can only pause and wonder?
"Tim may have taken satisfaction and pride at his achievements and the success of the various teams that he was part of. However, it was nothing to the pride and satisfaction he took in his own family when they started to play. He was ever present, coaxing, coaching, encouraging from the time they first donned the jersey?s of Listowel Emmett?s.
"Indeed, I remember once meeting him in Dublin before some game which I have long forgotten. I do not forget however what Tim said to me when I proffered the opinion that things weren?t great in the county. He said: ?I have two lads and it won?t be long before they?re heard of?.
"He was right and I have reason to remember his words when all other aspects of the weekend have long been forgotten. I have watched Noel and Tadhg?s careers flower and flourish, and there was no prouder man on the planet when you first wore the Kerry jersey and when you achieved the ultimate honours here and in Australia. You can be proud that you gave him such satisfaction and pride and that you fulfilled the promise so well that he saw in you so many years ago. That is a rare and precious phenomenon for any parent to experience.
"As we mourn the loss of Tim tonight, I think that we can also count ourselves fortunate to have met him and known him. We can be grateful that we saw him play so many games and that we could share the reflected glory of his exploits and sometimes his unrivalled company. The man they called "Horse" may be gone, but will never be forgotten.
"On behalf of the GAA and its many members countrywide whose thoughts and prayers are at this time with the Kennelly family, I wish to extend sympathy to Nuala, to Mag, to Noel, Tadhg and Jo Anne. I hope that the collective outpouring of shock and sympathy in the county and so many expressions of sympathy from home and abroad may in some way support you in this time of grief."
The following is then full text of the President's address.
"Any of us who grew up in the Kingdom of Kerry have football running through our veins. From the time we reached the age of reason, and right through our formative years, football was part of the oxygen of our lives; consuming our thoughts, shaping our character and in many cases helping to chart our destiny.
The icons of our county, the revered and chosen ones are not those who have achieved fame, fortune and acclaim through conventional barometers and measurements applied in other lands. No, they are the men who have for over a century walked tall and proud in our beloved Green and Gold. They are the men who have exemplified the tradition of Kerry with displays of skill, courage and passion for the honour of their people and county. They are the men who brought glory and honour to the county. They are the men who gilded the legacy bestowed on them by the Almighty and previous generations and who handed the flame faithfully to the next generation to thrill and enthral us in a tradition enhanced.
"Indeed, I see many such men here in my presence tonight. We are amongst the members of the GAA extended family and Tim Kennelly?s family and friends to pay our respects to Tim, a man who was a giant of his generation and a man who earned a place amongst the Pantheon of greats.
"Tim wore the Green and Gold at all levels and won a multiplicity of honours at club, county, provincial and indeed national levels. When he burst on the scene in 1975, a year in which he won an U21 and senior All-Ireland, Tim quickly made the centre back position his own. He was the rock on which Kerry?s defence was built. In many ways he was the catalyst to the unprecedented success of a team without parallels. Tall, strong, brave, uncompromising and unsuspectingly skilful, Tim was the prototype and the embodiment of the Kerry defender.
"Tim Kennelly did not just achieve folk hero and football deity status in Kerry. Through his brilliance and honesty on the field and his open and endearing qualities in life, Tim was loved and admired right through the country and beyond. Unassuming, warm, compassionate and friendly, Tim had those most cherished attributes ? greatness allied to humility.
"We all have fond memories of the 70?s and 80?s ? the Golden Era of Kerry football. We all have favourite cameos which are indelibly etched in our memories. When these games are spoken of, the name of Tim Kennelly and his jousts with Tony Hanahoe always feature ? they are the stuff of legend, part of the colourful tapestry that is the chronicle of the GAA. Is it any wonder when men like P?id? O S? and Jimmy Deenihan speak in awe of some of the clashes, mere mortals can only pause and wonder?
"Tim may have taken satisfaction and pride at his achievements and the success of the various teams that he was part of. However, it was nothing to the pride and satisfaction he took in his own family when they started to play. He was ever present, coaxing, coaching, encouraging from the time they first donned the jersey?s of Listowel Emmett?s.
"Indeed, I remember once meeting him in Dublin before some game which I have long forgotten. I do not forget however what Tim said to me when I proffered the opinion that things weren?t great in the county. He said: ?I have two lads and it won?t be long before they?re heard of?.
"He was right and I have reason to remember his words when all other aspects of the weekend have long been forgotten. I have watched Noel and Tadhg?s careers flower and flourish, and there was no prouder man on the planet when you first wore the Kerry jersey and when you achieved the ultimate honours here and in Australia. You can be proud that you gave him such satisfaction and pride and that you fulfilled the promise so well that he saw in you so many years ago. That is a rare and precious phenomenon for any parent to experience.
"As we mourn the loss of Tim tonight, I think that we can also count ourselves fortunate to have met him and known him. We can be grateful that we saw him play so many games and that we could share the reflected glory of his exploits and sometimes his unrivalled company. The man they called "Horse" may be gone, but will never be forgotten.
"On behalf of the GAA and its many members countrywide whose thoughts and prayers are at this time with the Kennelly family, I wish to extend sympathy to Nuala, to Mag, to Noel, Tadhg and Jo Anne. I hope that the collective outpouring of shock and sympathy in the county and so many expressions of sympathy from home and abroad may in some way support you in this time of grief."
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