Mick O'Dwyer remembered as mentor, leader, friend

Kerry GAA legend Mick O'Dwyer has been remembered as a mentor, leader, and a friend at his requiem mass today.

The most successful inter-county football manager of all time passed away on Thursday at the age of 88.

His requiem mass took place earlier this morning.

An easterly wind kept the flags blowing outside St Finians Church in Waterville this afternoon – the Waterville GAA flag itself at half mast, out of respect for the late Mick O’Dwyer, whose requiem mass has just taken place here.

People started to arrive at 9:30, with a distinguished set of attendees including the Taoiseach, The President’s Aide de Camp Colonel Tom McGrath, and Commandant Patrick Moroney on behalf of Tanaiste Simon Harris.

Taoiseach Michael Martin at Mick O' Dwyers funeral

Of course many of Kerry’s GAA greats from down through the years, especially from those golden years under Micko, also attended, among them Jack O’Shea, Jimmy Deenihan, Eoin Liston, Mikey Sheehy, Ambrose O'Donovan, John Kennedy, Charlie Nelligan, Pat Spillane, Mickey Ned O'Sullivan, from more recent times Darragh Ó Sé and Tommy Walsh, and one of Micko's own teammates and lifelong friend, Mick O'Connell.

From outside Kerry, Sean Boylan of Meath, Johnny Doyle of Kildare, and other members of the Kildare team from the 1990s attended.

A crowd who could not fit inside the church stood outside in the sun as Fr Sean Jones introduced the symbols, representing Micko's life: an accordion, a photo of him and his wife Geraldine, his favourite chocolate bar, his address and phone book, a trophy he won in golf, rolled up match programme, a football, and a miniature Sam Maguire. O'Dwyer kept this, he said, to remind himself that the real one was never too far away.

Memories of his sporting success were shared, up to and including his tenure over the Dromid/Waterville Under 15s, who he coached to the County League Division 8 title when he was 79 years of age – a win is a win, Fr Jones said.

His son Karl did the first reading, and his grandchildren led prayers of the faithful.

Music throughout was by Kathy and Andreas Durkin.

Marty Morrissey read a reflection after the eucharist, in which he reminisced about meeting him down the years, and recited a poem he had penned himself honouring the man.

Mick O'Dwyer's long-time friend Michael O’Flynn gave the eulogy, remembering him as a mentor, a leader, and a friend, and acknowledging the care he received in later life.

Dozens thronged into the church after the mass to sympathise with the family, before his coffin was lifted out to the tune of the Artane Band, draped in a Kerry GAA and Waterville flag.

He has been laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery here at St Finian's Church, leaving behind him an unrivalled legacy.