The late Eamonn O’Grady - In appreciation

It is a privilege for me to write here about Eamonn O'Grady, our Honorary Club President, God rest him. For I speak about a man who gave a phenomenal contribution to a Parish and County as a GAA legend, as a community man, as a family man and as an agricultural officer.

From Eamonn's arrival here in 1963 with his wife Carmel, they both have contributed enormously in many ways; Eamonn as a community man, particularly GAA; Carmel as organist and choir leader for over half a century; the two of them also lending their talents to many organisations and parish causes.

One could speak for weeks about Eamonn O'Grady, the GAA legend, and that is what he is. Coming from Belturbet and GAA crazy Cavan, a Cavan player himself, Eamonn in 1963 carried with him an insatiable love for GAA that inspired and motivated him to get a club going in Drumkeerin.

The first meeting was in January 1964 and his involvement in Drumkeerin GAA since that would fill manuscripts.
That year Drumkeerin won a County Junior League. Two years later in 1966 Eamonn managed County Junior Champions. He was back again in 1975 managing County Junior Championship and League winners.

A broken leg in 1966 ended his playing days. But he had extra time and energy to spread his GAA countywide, as Chairman of North Leitrim GAA Board and later as Vice Chairman of County Leitrim GAA Board, doing Trojan work countywide for Leitrim GAA.

Eamonn's appetite and enthusiasm for the Drumkeerin club was boundless; coaching and encouraging underage teams, also Men and Ladies, bringing the Ladies to a County Ladies Final in 1972, the first Senior Ladies Final in Leitrim.

Nothing deterred Eamonn. With no car or bus available, Eamon brought an underage hurling team to play Manorhamilton, he brought them, players and hurleys, in a hearse. He shocked the opposition.

Eamonn was a community man, his energies helping many parish causes. He was Chairperson of Inishmagrath Parish Council. He served as Eucharist minister and a reader at Mass and he was always on hand to help out at church activities. His energy for community activities was never measured, he put his heart and soul into all things Drumkeerin.

Since Eamonn retired as an Agricultural officer, countless times I have met farmers, from all over Leitrim, asking how is O'Grady and then they would go on to say how approachable and so helpful he was to resolve their problems.

Invariably they would say he was fearless, how they marvelled at the way he could catch an animal, a wild one at a fair or mart.

I have spoken about the GAA legend, the community man and the farmers friend. I have left the family man until last.

Eamonn was a devoted husband, father and a doting grandfather. He was married to Carmel for sixty one years; both loving and devoting their lives to their family. He was always so proud of Carmel, Maeve, Stan, Collette and Eamonn Óg, his proud referee.

Then came the grandchildren. I don't know of any man who was so proud of his children and grandchildren. One could see that love radiating from photographs of him with them.

Such was the legend that was Eamonn O'Grady, the man who continued to lift spirits all his life.
Eamonn, farewell, may you rest in peace. Singing in Heaven, perhaps, including “Just One Cornetto.”

Ar dheis Dé Eamonn, do anam uasal. (AR)