Eddie Foley (R.I.P.) 07/08/10
Cobh Gaa Club vice-president passed away on Saturday morning. His passing leaves a big hole in the Gaa family in Cobh. In February 2009 Eddie’s lifetime of service to the club was acknowledged when he received the Hall of Fame Award to a standing ovation. Below is a brief outline of Eddie’s contribution to Cobh Gaa Club.
Eddie Foley or Eamonn Ó Foghlú came to Cobh in the early fifties to work with CIE at the Railway station. He was a Listowel man and brought with him his love for all things Gaelic, especially the Gaelic language and the Gaelic football. He was a member of the Cobh Junior football teams who won many trophies in the fifties including the East Corks of ’55 and’56 and he was a member of the team who played Senior football in 1959. Later on Eamonn was a selector on the Junior Football team that won the County C’ship in 1968. But these are not the deeds that made him stand out in our club. Plenty of people have played on teams and plenty people have been selectors on teams but very few give the type of consistent support to a club that Eamonn has gave to the Gaa in Cobh.
The History of The Cobh Gaa book, which was published in 1984 gives very little mention of Eamonn, but then again the man who sits at the door selling tickets, or who organises the dances or for that matter who comes along to open the door, very rarely appears in history books. These are the jobs that Eamonn had been doing for Cobh Gaa since he came to the town over fifty years ago. Most of the young people presently involved in the club probably won’t know who Eddie Foley is, most likely have never seen Eddie Foley but the fact is without Eddie Foley and men like him Cobh Gaa would be a very different club. I mentioned the Cobh Gaa History Book -Eamonn O Foghlú was chairman of the sub-committee formed to write the book – he wasn’t the kind of man who’d be writing about himself.
Eamonn’s contribution to the development of Cobh Gaa club started in 1952 when he was a member of the group who organised the purchase of our field at Carrignafoy for £1304 and he was a driving force in organising the repayment of this money and the subsequent money that had to be borrowed to develop the field. In 1975 Eamonn was vice-chairman of the club when our pavilion was opened. He also acted as Treasurer, Secretary, asst. Secretary, and Registrar of the club.
Eamonn had a great love for the Irish language. He was chairman of the Gaa Scór committee in the 1970’s and always did his bit for the promotion of the Irish language. When the camogie club was started in the 1960’s Eamonn gave the ladies great support and encouragement and ensured that the ladies section received that support from the Gaa club.
He was always there, for the most part doing the jobs that no one notices but if left undone become very noticeable. He was an absolute gentleman, and gave a lifetime of service to the GAA in Cobh. Ar Dheis Dé Go Raibh Sé.
Pat Looney
PRO, CLG, Cobh.
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