A Club Tribute to Brendan Dowling RIP (Austin Stacks Club President)
There was great sadness in the Club and in the local community on Tuesday afternoon (Sept 20th) when news broke of the death of our current Club President, Brendan Dowling. Brendan was appointed to that position in 2010 following the passing of Fr. Mícheál Galvin and like Fr. Mícheál he took a keen interest in Club affairs during his tenure of the last twelve years.
Brendan began his involvement with the Club with success. In 1955 he was a member of the great Minor Hurling team that won the Minor Hurling Co. Championship that year – defeating a fancied Ballyheigue team by 9-4 (31) to 2-2 (8). Brendan wore the Number 8 jersey that day and he and his fellow centre-field man, Frank Tiernan dominated mid-field on that September day and contributed in no small way to our brilliant victory.
Two years before that, at the aged of 16, he was a member of our Minor Football team that reached the 1953 Co. Final, going down to Castleisland in a low-scoring game (1-0 to 0-1).
When his playing days were over he continued his involvement in Club affairs and served as Assistant Secretary for a number of years before becoming one of the Club’s outstanding Chairmen for a four year term during the 1986-1989 period. It was during Brendan’s time as Chairman that the Club developed their new Clubhouse/Bar in Connolly Park which was officially opened in June 1989. His sons Eddie and Tommy played with the Club – Eddie was a member of the SF Co. Championship winning team in 1994.
To his family his wife Marie and children Margaret, Johnny, Teresa, Tommy, Garry, Eddie and Mandy and all his extended family we extend our sincere sympathy.
Funeral arrangements as follows:
Reposing at the Gleasure Funeral Home, Tralee on Friday (September 23rd) from 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. Funeral arriving to Our Lady Church, Tralee on Saturday morning at 10.00 a.m. where the Requiem Mass for Brendan will be celebrated at 10.30 a.m. (streamed on www.stbrendansparishtralee.net. Interment afterwards in Rath Cemetery, Tralee. Donations in lieu of flowers, if desired, to The Palliative Care Unit, U.H.K. Austin Stacks GAA club will provide a guard of honour from the Club House, Connolly Park to St. Brendan’s church on Saturday morning and from the Church to Rath Cemetery after the mass.
Unveiling of Joe Mulchinock Photograph 2013: Back row L>R – Tadhg McMahon, Tom Tansley, Brendan Dowling, Marie Fernane, Orlaith Griffin. Front Row L>R -Liam Shanahan, JJ Murphy, Martin Collins.
Brendan on the occasion of his 80th Birthday 2017 at Austin Stacks GAA Club.
Brendan was part of the 1955 Minor Hurling Co. Championship winning team.
