Carrick-on-Suir GAA club mourns passing of ex-chairman and two former players

Carrick Davins GAA Club is mourning the deaths of its former chairman Alan Faulkner and former players Noel Walsh and Ritchie Ryan.

The Club has paid heartfelt and glowing tributes to the three deceased who made a huge contribution to the club and has extended condolences to their grieving families.

Mr Faulkner from Rackhill, Carrickbeg passed away on Saturday, August 31 and his funeral Mass was celebrated at St Molleran’s Church last Thursday morning with burial afterwards in Carrick’s St Mary’s Cemetery.

Mr Walsh from Cregg, Carrick-on-Suir, a noted full-back in his playing days with the Davins, died on Monday, September 2.

Last Friday morning the funeral hearse bearing his remains paused outside the Sliabh na mBan Bar on Carrick’s Main Street, which he was formerly proprietor of when it was known as the Harp Bar, and the Davins Club before departing for the Island Crematorium in Cork.

The following day the club received more sad news with the death of former player Richard (Ritchie) Ryan from Kennedy Terrace.

Mr Ryan, who was originally from Treacy Park, was a member of the famous Tipperary Minor Football team that defeated Kerry to win a Munster title in final in 1984. It was Tipperary’s first football Munster Minor title in 29 years.

He went onto proudly represent the Davins Club on the Tipp team panel in the All-Ireland Minor football final in Croke Park that year where they lost to Dublin.

The late Alan Faulkner who played a pivotal role in the erection of the Maurice Davin statues outside Davin Park

Alan Faulkner, who was proprietor of The Premier Bar in Carrickbeg, chaired Carrick Davins for over a decade and played a “pivotal role” in the erection of the statue of GAA co-founder, Maurice Davin, outside Davin Park.

In his tribute to Mr Faulkner, Davins Club Secretary Niall Ryan described him as “a very unassuming man” and “community man” who “went about his business quietly, and without fuss”.

“He was intelligent, well read and a gentleman to all who crossed his path. He was an avid reader; he loved sitting in the quietness of the local library reading a newspaper or a book that he was interested in.”

Mr Ryan wrote that Alan was first and foremost a family man. His wife and kids were his world.

He was a publican, but never touched a drop and an excellent plasterer who prided himself on his work and the work carried out by his company.

He loved greyhounds and music and was an excellent snooker player

“Last but definitely not least was his love for following the Davins and his beloved Tipperary.

“He was the greatest Tipperary supporter I have ever met. He would travel to the four corners of the country to watch Tipp play. What he didn’t know about Tipperary hurling, wasn’t worth knowing.

“He was a big part of the Tipperary supporters club back in the day; he bled Blue and Gold. He eventually had his dream come through, when his son Luke progressed all the way up to our Intermediate team. The pride in his face whenever Luke would put the ball over the bar was priceless.”

Mr Ryan wrote that Alan was a “forward thinker” in his role as chairman of the Davins Club.

“He played a pivotal role in the building of the Maurice Davin statue that sits just outside Davin Park. He instigated the negotiations with Carrick Swan Club to buy the field and to became sole owners.

“He was our lead delegate when we went to Leinster House and gave a presentation to the Minister of Sport to further develop the grounds. He had more visions and it is now up to the rest of us to realise them.”

The late Noel Walsh from Cregg Road was a member of the great Davins hurling team of the 1960s and 70s

In remembering the late Noel Walsh, Niall Ryan paid tribute to his prowess as a hurler in his youth and his deep knowledge of the Club’s history.

“By trade Noel was a painter but we all knew him as the man behind The Harp Bar, along with his late wife Ann, of course.”

He recalled that Noel was a “fierce” full-back on the iconic Davins team of the ‘60s and ‘70s. He collected a Junior county medal, Intermediate county medal and two Senior county medals all culminating with a Munster club title in 1966. That great team went nearly three years unbeaten in all competitions.

Noel hurled on into the 1970s and was team captain when he won his 9th South title medal.

“He always remained an avid supporter of the Club,” wrote Niall Ryan. “He was a familiar face around the field and he always kept contact with his old teammates and supporters of the club.

“Noel was the go to man for the history of the club; his knowledge went back to our formation in 1922,” Mr Ryan added.

The late Ritchie Ryan was a member of the 1984 Tipperary Minor Football team panel that reached an All-Ireland final

The Davins Club Secretary also paid a beautiful tribute to the late Ritchie Ryan, whose funeral Mass was celebrated in St Molleran’s Church at 12noon today (Wednesday, September 11) followed by a private cremation.

He recalled that Ritchie spent most of his childhood pucking ball in Davin Park and was a key member of one of the club’s most successful juvenile teams ever that won South hurling titles at Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 level.

He played a leading role in the Davins Minor team’s South title victory over St Mary’s, which was the club’s first South Minor title since the 1966.

“The pinnacle for Ritchie was being a part of the Tipperary Minor football panel that defeated Kerry in Killarney, 2-3 to 0-8, to win the Munster title.

“Tipperary lost the All-Ireland final to Dublin. But we were so proud in the club to have a Davin man run onto Croke Park wearing the blue and gold of Tipperary.”

Niall Ryan added that Ritchie went on to play Intermediate football and Senior hurling for the Davins Club before moving to St Mollerans, where he played until retirement.

May they Rest in Peace