PAUL LUCEY: Paul came from a family of brilliant footballers. His brothers Noel, Jimmy and Vincent were all part of the Kerry SF Teams of the early/mid 1960s, with Noel and Jimmy winning All Ireland medals in 1962. Later in the decade the brothers, including Paul, were part of the Mid Kerry Co. Championship winning team of 1967. When Paul arrived in Tralee in the mid 1970s he became a vital cog in the great Rock teams of our 2nd Golden Era (1973-1994). In his first two seasons with the Club (he made his SF Championship debut on 20th July 1975) he won Co. Championship medals in 1975 and 1976 against his old Club, Mid Kerry in 1975 and against Kenmare District in 1976. Another medal was to follow in 1979 before he made his last SF Co. Championship appearance in August 1981.
The year after he was part of Billy Curtin’s Management team, together with Jim Gannon. Then he managed the team himself in 1987, was a selector again in 1989 with James Hobbert and Denny Long and then managed our Co. Championship winning team in 1994. He was manager again in 1996 and then in recent times he was a selector in Stephen Stack’s Management team of 2013, 2014 and 2015 (winning another Co. Championship in 2014, as well, of course, that year’s Munster Club Championship). He wasn’t involved in 2016 due to his illness but when he recovered earlier this year he got involved again in Club activity, this time with our Ladies team, and he guided them to win the Co. Intermediate Championship at the end of July. Unfortunately his illness re-occurred a few weeks ago and he passed away peacefully last night in the presence of family.
Paul was a club favourite and a friend to young and old. He will always hold a special place in the hearts of Austin Stacks Supporters who will no doubt continue to sing his name on the terraces whenever the Rockies take to the field – “and when we get to Munster, the Rockie boys will sing, and when we get to Munster Paul Lucey is our King!”
We extend sincere sympathy to Niall, Emmett (both former Club footballers), Pamela and Ciara (also a former club player); & his 2 granddaughters Hannah-Mai and Ellen – current Club players – and to all his extended family and friends.
Funeral arrangements: Reposing at the Gleasure Funeral Home Tralee on Tuesday Dec 26th from 2.30pm to 5pm. Followed by removal to St. John’s Church, Tralee. Requiem mass on Wednesday at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in Milltown Cemetery. May he rest in peace.
