The Taoiseach and the GAA President were among those to pay tribute to Mick O’Dwyer at his funeral mass today.
The Waterville man was laid to rest in the cemetery on the grounds of St Finian’s Church in his native parish earlier today.
He won four All-Ireland medals in a distinguished playing career with the Kingdom, before coaching the county team to eight All-Irelands in Kerry’s golden era of the 1970s and 80s.
Crowds began to gather here at St Finian’s Church early this morning, and before long a star-studded representation from the footballing and political worlds began to arrive.
Speaking outside the church, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Mick O’Dwyer lifted the spirits of the nation.
Uachtaráin Cumann Luthcleas Géal, Jarlath Burns, told Radio Kerry about the GAA legacy left by the great Mick O’Dwyer:
Former Kildare footballer Tadhg Fennin played under Mick O’Dwyer and won a Leinster Championship medal under his management in 2000; he explains why he made the journey down from Kildare to Waterville this morning:
Marty Morrissey described him as a legend, and in his eulogy, his friend Michael O’Flynn described Mick O’Dwyer as a mentor, leader, and a friend, before his coffin was lifted out to the adjoining cemetery draped in Kerry and Waterville GAA flags and his parish said a final farewell to its most revered son.
