Edenderry GAA mourns loss of honorary president

Edenderry GAA has paid tribute to its Honorary Club President Eddie Kenny following his death last week.

Extending sincere condolences to the Kenny family on the passing of Eddie, Edenderry GAA hailed his contribution to the club over the years.

"Eddie and his family have been involved in the club in many different roles for decades as players, supporters and club officials. Only last week at our AGM, Chairman Willie Forde spoke of the sadness in the club at the death earlier in the year of Pat Nolan and little did we realise then that we were about to lose another man who made a huge contribution to the club down through the years," said a club statement.

"Eddie was a passionate supporter of both 'The Reds' and Offaly and in his lifetime he got to witness his club and county win both county and All-Ireland titles in both codes. He was always around the club and was willing to help out in any way he could and was a wise head at many an Executive meeting down through the years.

"In the last few years he was especially proud of his grandsons Ciaran and Barry lining out for the Reds and, earlier this year, another grandson Tom made his debut in Croke Park.

"In Eddie and Pat the club has lost two great men and they will not be easy to replace as no job was too big or too small for them to do. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam."

Eddie Kenny of St Conleth's Terrace, Carrick Road, Edenderry died unexpectedly on December 14 at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, following a short illness.

Predeceased by his parents, sisters and grandson Scott, Eddie is deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving family, wife Bridie, children Mag, Anne, Pat, Ger and Ed, brother Sean, grandchildren Ciarán, Barry, Eámmon, Tom and Keelin, sons-in-law Declan, Finbarr and Patrick, daughter-in-law Karen, sister-in-law Helen, nephews, nieces, his widespread GAA family and friends.

His Funeral Mass was held on Monday last in St Mary's Church, Edenderry, followed by burial in St Mary's Cemetery. May Eddie rest in peace.

David Farrell from Edenderry has composed a poem in honour of Eddie Kenny and it follows below.

'The red and white Edenderry flag

Is flying at half mast,

At the Gaelic Grounds on the Carrick Road

A spell of sorrow has been cast

As the fog descended down

From the sky on Wednesday night

The news of Eddie’s passing

Began to come to light

Our tight knit GAA family

Is suffering once more

We’ve lost our Club President

We’re shaken to the core

Eddie was an ever present

In our old pavilion hall

You could always rely on Eddie

He was always on the ball

Whether seated in the bingo hall

Or shouting from the stand

If you needed help in Gaelic Park

Eddie always lent a hand

His training attendance was impeccable

For a man of eighty-eight

Last one to leave was Eddie

He’d always pull the gate

Eddie’s first love was Bridie

And the five children that they shared

Family meant the world to him

They were all so well reared

Their devotion to each other

It is plain for all to see

A family in deep mourning

At the loss of GA-GA Eddie

Trips to Kerry were quite frequent

The Gleneagle they would go

Cherished memories for them both

Bridie best dressed from head to toe

Eddie loved hard work

He was tough as they would come

“Stand back there young Barry Cullen

And I’ll show you how it’s done”

If you called to Eddie’s house

The kettle would be whistling

Bridie had the spuds on

The fire at 90 in the kitchen

The Duke John Wayne was on the tele

He loved a good aul western

Then switch over to the rugby

His love for Ireland never in question

He loved to argue politics

With his good friends Pat and Peadar

They’re reunited now in heaven

They’re sure to have a natter

“Your crowd ruined the country”

Eddie told Peadar with a grin

“I don’t know how the people

Ever voted Fianna Fail back in”

With Peadar behind the bar in heaven

And Pat with a glass of wine

Eddie will have a drink of Jameson

They’ll have the best of time

The Massey is parked up now

No more ventures out to the Cod

Another great love of Eddie’s

Was summertime out in the bog

So many lives have changed forever

With the loss of one great man

We can count ourselves so lucky

To have known the patriarch of the Kenny clan.'