Tributes paid as Wicklow and Leinster GAA stalwart Cathal Friel dies

Originally from Glencoagh, Mountcharles in County Donegal, Cathal settled in Killinure on the Wicklow-Carlow border, the homeland of his late, beloved wife, Sarah (née Carthy), with whom he had two daughters, Annie and Mary.

Described as a “quiet and unassuming gentleman” with a passion for all things GAA, Cathal and Sarah, or Sally as she liked to be known, would play an integral role in the infancy of Coolkenno GAA, with Cathal serving a four-year tenure and leading a strong committee as the first chairman of the club.

Held in high esteem by all those who came into contact with him, as one committee member from that period stated: “While we focused on just the games, Cathal was doing serious work in the background, and I would easily say had it not been for Cathal, the club probably would have folded a few years after it had started.”

In the late 80s, Cathal and his brother-in-law Mick Carthy helped form the Wicklow Ladies County Board, which he served expertly as secretary and played his own part in the Wicklow’s Ladies team winning the Junior All-Ireland title against London in 1990.

Since his passing on Wednesday, tributes to Cathal’s indelible impact on local, county and provincial GAA have been pouring in from across the Garden County and beyond, with Coolkenno GAA penning a touching salute to their former chairman.

“It is with deep sadness across the Coolkenno area today that we learned of the passing of Cathal Friel – our thoughts lie with his daughters, Annie and Mary, sons-in-law, Simon and Johnny, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all of his extended family, friends and neighbours,” the post reads.

“Cathal will always be remembered as a quiet and unassuming gentleman, who after fifty years of living in County Wicklow, still retained his strong south Donegal accent.

“There was more to this man than just that. He would dedicate most of his life as an influential leader in the formation and progressive development of Gaelic games in Wicklow and Leinster.

“For many of the older generation in the Coolkenno area, when we think of Cathal, we would think of his late beloved wife, Sarah, or Sally as she was fondly known.

“Both Cathal and Sarah would play a paramount role in the years of the infancy of Coolkenno GAA, Coolkenno Ladies GAA and Coolkenno Juveniles throughout the 1980s.

“On November 29, 1980, Cathal would become the first Chairman of Coolkenno GAA and hold the position until 1984, taking the position of secretary for several years.

“On May 18, 1988, Cathal, his brother-in-law, Mick Carthy, Anne Byrne and Jack Bowes, joined committee members from Coolboy at the Little Moon Pub and the Wicklow Ladies County Board was formed.

“Cathal would become secretary, and during his tenure on the board, the Wicklow’s Ladies' team would win the Junior All-Ireland against London in 1990. Cathal would remain involved in ladies' football for much of the remainder of his life – such was his dedication.”

The post continued to explain that, in 2014, Cathal was interviewed by a neighbour who was compiling a history of Coolkenno GAA.

Cathal reminisced that one of his many proudest moments in relation to Gaelic sports was seeing the Coolkenno crest in Croke Park among Ireland’s hundreds of other club crests.

In an excerpt from the interview, Cathal described the earliest days of the club, saying: “One of the first meetings that led to the organisation of the Club was held downstairs in the sitting room of the Crablane.

“We called up Peter Keogh and told him what our plans were and he delightfully backed us up. Myles Keogh, Nick Byrne, Liam O’Rourke, Jack Bowes, and Willie Byrne of Littlewood were among the big crowd that was there that night. After we approached the County Board, we needed players to affiliate.

“That led to two or three heading in different directions to round up men to play. Everybody supported us in every way they could. There was a great commitment from the locality and from old and young people alike.”

When asked about his role in forming Coolkenno Ladies GAA in 1982-1983, he recalled: “Back then, the Ladies played in local tournaments, generally against Palatine in Carlow.

“They were mostly engaged against Carlow teams before the Ladies County Board was set up in 1988. The football field above in the Crablane was a centre of activity back in those days and that’s how the Ladies came about. There was a great atmosphere at training.”

Concluding the heartfelt post, Coolkenno GAA wrote: “With the sad passing of Cathal, we look back with sadness that many of the familiar faces of Coolkenno GAA’s earliest days are now no longer with us and that those great days are now becoming distant.

“Cathal will now join the alumni of legends of our club’s prestigious past alongside Noel Murphy, Jim Walker, Fin Doyle, Ann O’Rourke, John Timmins Sr, John Timmins Jr, Fr. Kaye, Fr. Vincent McDonald, Bill Bowes, Mick Furlong, Tim Farrell, Viv Sandes, Ian Sandes and many, many more.

“God rest you Cathal. Thank you for your services to Coolkenno GAA, Wicklow Ladies GAA, Leinster Ladies GAA and for being a memorable neighbour.”

Adding to Coolkenno GAA’s tribute, Wicklow GAA Ladies wrote: “Wicklow LGFA were saddened to hear of the recent passing of Cathal Friel. We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Cathal's family.

“We also send our sympathies to Cathal's Leinster LGFA colleagues with whom he served for so many years and indeed to his many friends, particularly those within the LGFA and GAA community.

“He was involved initially in setting up Wicklow LGFA in 1987/88 and then continued to serve Wicklow LGFA as Chairperson.

“He was also instrumental in the setting up of the Coolkenno GAA and LGFA club in south Wicklow to whom we also extend our sympathies.

“He subsequently went on to serve Leinster LGFA proudly for many years as their Provincial Secretary and also served for many years as Leinster's representative on the national fixtures committee.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam .”

No funeral arrangements have yet been released.