Jimmy Kelly Condolences
Below are condolence messages that were sent to the club email address and club website.
While it will never totally display the depth of feeling people had for Jimmy, we hope that it goes to show what a great man Jimmy was and how much affection and respect people had for Jimmy was out there.
Jimmy Kelly RIP
A chairde,
It is with the heaviest of hearts that I must make you all aware of the sudden and untimely death of the Scottish County Chairman, Jimmy Kelly (R.I.P.). Jimmy was on holiday inSpain and became unwell very suddenly and passed away on Sunday 29th July 2007.
As Jimmy passed away abroad, it will be a few days before we will be certain of the funeral arrangements.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his beloved wife Angela, his family and his many friends.
The GAA has lost one of its finest men and we have all lost a great friend.
Ar dheis dea go raibh a h-anam dilis.
Le meas mor,
John Lennon
Runai
Coiste Contae na hAlbain
A chairde
This is hard to take in… and hard to know what to say. This is indeed is a major shock to us all, first and foremost to Angela (to whom he was so devoted) and to his family and of course also to the entire GAA fraternity. We have all lost a great friend whose selfless dedicationto the GAA, particularly in Scotland was inspirational.
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam, Peter
Professor Peter Mossey
University of Dundee
Dental Hospital & School, 1 Park Place, Dundee, DD1 4HR, Scotland, UKA chairde
What a shock! Our thoughts all go out to Angela and Jimmy’s family, their grief – particularly given Jimmy’s sudden and unexpected end – must be unbearable. We have all lost a great servant to the Association.
Our thoughts and prayers go out tonight to Jimmy and the family and we will remember Jimmy during the Portiuncula Indulgence over the 1st. and 2nd August.
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam, Ian Robertson
A very sad day for the club and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Jimmy. A true Gael whose devotion to our club was unbelievable. Thoughts are with Angela and his family. One lasting memory for me will be the championship final night last year where he was the happiest man I’ve seen. He will be sorely missed by all. May he rest in peace.
Cathal Heron
I would just like to pass on my own and my brother Martin’s condolences to Jimmy’s family. I have very fond memories of Jimmy, as it was against Glencovit that my brother Martin played his first ever game of football. My fondest memory of Jimmy is when he played a psychological blinder that Alex Ferguson would be proud of. We were playing in the first ever Irish Holidays International Overseas tournament in Dublin and we were just about to play our last game against Canada and Jimmy informed us that old Owen Kelly was so disgusted by our performances in the first two games and our behaviour (we had been out for a few drinks) that he had got an early flight home as he did not want to be associated with the Scottish team. We went out and played a blinder and came running over at the end of the game to tell the lads that they could phone the old man up and tell him the score, only for Jimmy to inform us that the old man was due to go home early anyway and he had not mentioned a thing to him or any of the selectors!!! That is what I will always remember about the man. He will be missed greatly not just by those from Glaschu, but across the whole GAA family. May he Rest in Peace.
Eamon Brennan
I had the privilege of getting to know Jimmy these last few months whilst helping coach the underage team. From travelling with him to Rutherglen and to matches in Manchester I was able to see at first hand his work and love for everything connected with the GAA. It is a massive and extremely sad loss for our club and for the whole of the GAA in Scotland. I will remember Jimmy’s immense satisfaction and pride at the recent U-12 blitz which involved a Gaels team for the very first time, that Jimmy helped set-up. Who could forget his beaming smile after our Championship win last year. On a personal level, and as a new resident to Clydebank, Jimmy’s advice and friendship was invaluable in helping me settle in the area – I know that the same could be said from Damo. My thoughts are with Angela and everyone connected to Jimmy. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
Garry
It is deeply sad to hear of the news of Jimmy’s passing. He was a true Gael in every regard and also a real gentleman. Whether it was county meetings, matches or dinner dances, Jimmy was always very pleasant to talk to and would offer an excellent insight into GAA affairs. He will be deeply missed by all and I would like to pass on my condolences to his family. Rest in Peace.
Aidy Martin (Dunedin Connollys, Edinburgh)
A terrible day for the GAA in Scotland and for Glaschu Gaels. May Jimmy Kelly, A true Gael, rest in peace. All our thoughts are with Angela, family and friends.
Gareth
I would just like to echo Cathal’s comments and pass on my condolences to the family. RIP
James
A black day indeed for the GAA in Scotland with the passing away of Jimmy Kelly. His commitment to Glaschu Gaels and the whole sport in this country was second to none. His vision and hard work is one of the reasons the club has enjoyed so much success since its founding in 1999. I had the great honour to be a close friend of Jimmy and I will sorely miss his wit, dry sense of humour and the invaluable advice he has given me over the past 18 years. I have great memories of attending many congresses from Cavan to Killarney with him and I know his knowledge and commitment raised the profile of the sport in Scotland to a level not previously reached. My thoughts are with Angela and his family at this sad time.
Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord.
Charlie McCluskey
A chairde
On behalf of Dunedin Connollys I would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Jimmy’s family and friends. It is hard to believe and it was a huge shock to hear the terrible news yesterday. It’s hard to know what to think or say in times like this. Those of you that were close to Jimmy I send to you my deepest sympathies. He was a great ambassador for the GAA in Scotland and he will be sadly missed.
To his wife and Family, their pain must be unbearable at this time and our thoughts and prayers go out them.
Jimmy, May you rest in peace
Regards
Alan Ward
Jimmy Kelly,
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Jimmy Kelly; a gentleman with a warm smile and great sense of humour whose enthusiasm and dedication for Gaelic Football was a joy to witness. Jimmy knew everybody’s name, was always on hand to offer advice and never missed a game. Such was the quality of the man, nothing fazed him and wherever help was needed he was always willing to oblige. I remember a couple of years ago we were short a referee, without hesitation Jimmy volunteered took the whistle and refereed in a style accustomed to someone who had refereed all their lives. How Jimmy was never offered a F1 drive amazes me, particularly with his impressive times for travelling to and from Manchester for games! We’ll all miss him, but although the sidelines will be lonely, I’ve no doubt Jimmy will be smiling down on us from above cheering on the team. My sympathy to Angela and all his family, Ar dheis De go raibh a hAnam usual.
Micheál
I would like to reiterate the comments of everyone, Jimmy was a true gent and I was honoured to know him, he will be sadly missed. My thoughts are with Angela and his family, may he rest in peace
John
Deepest Sympathy
To: Angela and Family.
I was deeply saddened to hear of Jimmy’s passing, he will be a great loss to all who had the privilege to know him. Jimmy was passionate about everything that he did in life and in particular his involvement with Cumann Lúthchleas Gael.
Jimmy was a great role model not only for his GAA Club (Glaschu Gaels) but also across the whole Association. Everyone that knew him will, sorely miss him.
Jimmy, God looked around his garden and found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face. He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful he always takes the best. He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb, so he closed your weary eyelids and whispered “Peace be thine”. It broke our hearts to lose you but you didn’t go alone, for part of us went with you the day God called you home.
Requiescat in pace
Anne Marie Millar
To Angela and Family,
Myself and Nikki would like to offer our deepest sympathies on the passing of Jimmy. When I first joined the Gaels 3 years ago, it didn’t take long for me to work out that it was Jimmy that made this club tick. Other people would talk about doing things…Jimmy didn’t. He got things done. His support and words of wisdom will be sorely missed, on and off the field.
Damo
To Angela and family,
I just want to say thank you on behalf of every footballer, committee member and supporter of this club for giving us the gift of Jimmy Kelly. He will be sorely missed by everyone for this enthusiasm, knowledge and true friendship.
Rest in peace my friend.
Barry
I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Jimmy Kelly’s family friends and loved ones. He was a great man for the Gaels and for the GAA and will be sorely missed by both.
Wallsey
I just want to add my condolences to Jimmy’s family on their loss, to let them know how much I appreciated Jimmy’s contributions not only to our club but to driving the GAA forward in Scotland and how much he will be missed by all.
Brendan Henry
As former Captain of the Glencovitt Rovers, I send my condolences to all at the Gaels and the
Scottish GAA for their very sad loss. I only found out last evening through a friend that Jimmy had
passed away whilst on holiday.
I have many great memories and story’s about Jim and his influence on getting our club off the ground in the early nineties, and he will always be remembered by the Glencovitt players as a true gentleman and ambassador to this wonderful minority sport in Scotland, and it was his work and dedication that ensured our clubs survival for the eight or so years that we existed.
Regards Mark Docherty
RIP Jimmy Kelly.
I played with Jimmy at St Pats Dumbarton. He was a good man.
I later worked with Jimmy at The Mungo Foundation where his integrity will be sadly missed.
Rusty, Balloch
I would just like to join the tributes to Jimmy. I played for 5 years with the Connolly’s and Scotland and always found Jimmy to be nothing only a gentleman. He had tremendous vision for the GAA and I always admired him for this. His loss to the game in Scotland will be immense but hopefully his legacy will not be lost on those who remain.
Enda Maloney, Offaly
I was greatly saddened to hear of the sudden death of Jimmy Kelly. I wish to express my condolences to his family and friends. He was a tremendous ambassador for the GAA and will be a great loss to both the Gaels and wider GAA community. May he rest in peace.
Joanne Doherty
I was saddened to hear of the passing away of Jimmy Kelly. I wish to pass on my deepest sympathy and condolences to Jimmy’s family and friends. It was a pleasure knowing him when I played for the Gaels. He was a true gentleman and lover of the game. He will be a massive loss to both the Gaels and GAA in Scotland. Many he rest in peace.
Caitriona
Dear Sir,
Firstly I would like to thank you for the guard of honour at my Uncle Jimmy’s funeral and the massive support to my Auntie Angela and the rest of our family at this very difficult time.
The tribute page on the Gaels website shows him as a man who loved playing the sport, supporting it and his enthusiasm to develop the sport in Scotland.
Whilst my Uncle Jimmy is born and bred in Clydebank, his family roots are from Ireland. His father and family were from Glenarm, Co. Antrim.
Kind Regards
Colette Kelly
A Chairde,
It is with great sadness that I write this, after finding the news of Jimmy’s passing in 2007 which has been posted on your website. I have very fond memories of Jimmy after he recruited myself and 2 other musketeers who were attending Glasgow University. It was the 93/94 season and Jimmy was the man that made the whole team (Glencovitt) run smoothly, from ferrying us to and from training and matches (and I am sure there were many occasions he wondered why) attending functions and meetings. We had many a good night after training/matches some of which ended back up at Jimmy’s house and lasted into the early morning.
He was a gentleman to the core and a true stalwart and dedicated member of the GAA, if it were not for the likes of Jimmy the GAA would be nothing. I wish your club every success and with the likes of Jimmy Kelly looking down on you, the future can only be bright. Jimmy has probably set up a GAA club up there, with St Peter in Goals.
May he rest in peace.
Please send on my condolences and best wishes to his wife Angela and family.
Kind regards and best of luck.
Mark Cullen
