An enduring presence at Dunsany Gaelic Football Club
OBITUARY: Michael Smith
The funeral took place in Dunsany on Christmas Eve of Michael Smith, who was the backbone of the local Gaelic football club for over half a century.
Aged 76, he died peacefully at his Clavinstown, Drumree home on Wednesday morning 22nd December, having been ill for some time.
A member of the Smith family of Killeen, his family is synonymous with Dunsany GFC, and Michael was an honorary president at the time of his passing, just six months after that of his brother and club sponsor, Francis.
A legendary figure in the club, he served in a variety of roles including as chairperson, but it is his many years in the dual role of treasurer and groundsman that his contribution will be best remembered.
Michael Smith was an outstanding young footballer and, in 1962, the year prior to the formation of the Dunsany club, he played for the Kildare minors, against Meath, in the Leinster Championship. He was attending the Army Apprentice School in Naas at the time and his performances for the school team had caught the attention of the Kildare selectors.
In the following year, he made his own piece of history when he became the first Dunsany player to wear the Meath jersey against Dublin in the minor championship and he was centre half forward on the first Dunsany team to play in the Championship against Dunshaughlin in Skryne on 26th May 1963. He was also selected on the Meath Junior team.
He was delighted to see John O’Regan, grandnephew of his wife, Ann, play a major role in the Meath minor team’s success in the 2021 All-Ireland Championship, and was delighted when John brought the Tom Markham Cup to his home at Clavinstown.
Michael was the Dunsany captain in 1964 but a spell with the Army in Cyprus saw him miss the 1965 championship. A promising playing career came to a premature end in 1968 when he sustained a serious knee injury in a league game against Ratoath.
He served as club chairperson in 1973, '74 and '75 before becoming treasurer in 1976, a role he held for over 30 years. But it was in his role as groundsman that he extracted most pride and satisfaction.
He looked after the pitch and the surrounding area with a great sense of pride, and he was always available for duty in any role not only on match days but on all occasions.
Michael's contribution to the survival and current well-being of the club was unique in terms of its quality and extent. He was awarded the club Hall of Fame award in 2011.
Following his stint with the peacekeeping forces in Cyprus and his time with the Irish Army, he joined CIE as a mechanic in its works in Broadstone in Dublin, before an opportunity arose with the opening of Tara Mines in Navan, where he was to spend the rest of his main working life. He was a shop steward there for a period as a member of the Unite union.
He later spent some time working on the Dunsany estate, following in the footsteps of his grandparents, Mick and Kate Flynn, and his mother, Mollie.
Michael had a keen interest in local history, and was one of the three authors of the Dunsany Church and parish centenary history ‘Dunsany 1894-1994’ published to mark the centenary of the local church.
In 2005, he graduated with an NUI Maynooth Local History Diploma, completing a work on ‘The Plunketts of Killeen Castle, Baron of Killeen, Earls of Fingall, 1403-1984. He had been born on the Killeen estate in 1945.
Married to Ann Walsh from Batterjohn, Kiltale, he is father of Gráinne and Brian, father-in-law of Michael and Jon, and grandfather of Sarah, Grace, Anna and Dan.
Son of the late Christy and Mollie Smith, he was predeceased by his brothers, Christopher and Francis, and sisters, Vera Mulroy and Carmel McMahon; and is also survived by his brothers, David, Dermot and Noel, aunt Patsy Teeling, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends.
The funeral took place from the Church of the Assumption, Dunsany, to the adjoining cemetery on Friday, celebrated by Curragh Army Chaplain, Fr PJ Somers, Salesian Order, assisted by Fr Terence Toner, PP, and Fr Danny Devitt, Rector, Salesian College, Pallaskenry, Co Limerick.
Dunsany GFC members provide a guard of honour from the club grounds.