President Michael D. Higgins has led tributes to Mick O'Dwyer, describing the Kerry football legend as “one of the greatest figures ever to be associated with Gaelic games.” O'Dwyer passed away at the age of 88.
The Waterville native won four All-Irelands as a player with the Kingdom before guiding his county to eight All-Ireland titles as manager, including an iconic four-in-a-row between 1978 and 1981.
Micko represented Kerry on 141 occasions and still holds the county record for most scores in the league, registering 16 goals and 291 points in 93 games.
After stepping down from managing Kerry in 1989, O’Dwyer brought further success to other counties—winning Leinster titles with both Kildare and Laois—and also managed Wicklow and Clare.
Kerry GAA paid tribute by calling him “a symbol of pride for the county – spanning decades,” while GAA President Jarlath Burns said the Kerry team of the 70s and 80s created a “magic that was as intoxicating for us in South Armagh as it was in his own beloved South Kerry.”
