John O'Sullivan
Photo of the late John O'Sullivan, from the Clare Champion website
John O'Sullivan - A TributeThe Early yearsJohn O’Sullivan a native of Skibberreen, Co. Cork an only child was born on Friday 6th of November 1936 to Julia Ann O’Sullivan (nee Long) and John O’Sullivan.
John was educated at Lough Inagh School and St Fachtna’s High School, De La Salle College Skibbereen, where he successfully completed his Leaving Certificate in 1955. He played minor and senior football for the O’Donovan Rossa football club, Skibbereen and was a regular member of the De La Salle College football team, a knee injury in his early twenties terminated a promising football career. After School he took up a teaching job in Glandore Primary School, Co. Cork for a short period of time. He had an opportunity to emigrate to America which he was very tempted by; however he was offered a chance to join the Garda Siochana which he gladly accepted. The Garda YearsHe underwent his training at Garda Headquarters, Dublin, and was assigned to Kilrush Station in November, 1957, where he served for two years, after which he went to Milltown Malbay. From 1961 to 1970 he was Secretary to the Superintendent at Ennis and in 1970 he was promoted to Sergeant.
He served for a short time in Shannon before going to Ballingarry, Co. Limerick and in Adare before being appointed Sergeant-in-Charge of the newly established District Office at Edward Street Station, Limerick in 1972. On the re-establishment of the Clare Garda Divisional Headquarters at Ennis in 1978 he was appointed Secretary to the Chief Superintendent. He served in that capacity until 1986 when he completed a one year course in Legal Metrology, and in 1987 he was appointed Inspector of Weights and Measures for County Clare. John had also been an officer of the Clare branch of the International Police Association for many years and held the position of vice chairman. The association, which is a friendship organisation, has supported and raised funds for many local charities John retired from the Garda Siochana after 36 years service. John married Cecilia O’Dea and they had 7 children Sean, Ann, Irene, Rose, James, Cecilia & Maureen. He was devoted to his family and grandchildren and a great father and grandfather to all. He passionately believed that every child deserved a chance and there was no better way to encourage a child’s development in life than through sport |
Lees Road to become O’Sullivan Park
A proposal to rename Lees Road in Ennis as O’Sullivan Park, in honour of the late John O’Sullivan, was passed at Monday’s county council meeting.
Such a proposal was passed at a previous meeting of Ennis Municipal District and followed a letter received from some of the founding members of the Ennis and District Sports Facilities Committee. The initial letter stated, “We would like the council to consider honouring the memory of John O’Sullivan by naming the Lees Road Sports Complex after him. Very few if any, have contributed so much to the promotion of healthy sporting activity in the Ennis region and throughout the county as John. “Not only he, but all his family, wife Cecilia, children and grandchildren have worked tirelessly in advancing sport in the county. To many of you, he may be mostly associated with the Community Games of which he was a founding member and which has impacted beneficially on most areas within the county but his influence has ranged over a much wider selection of sports. “While he was stationed in Miltown Malbay, he resurrected the boxing club there and started up a lifesaving club. On moving to Ennis in the ’50s, he founded the Marian Athletic Club with Sean Reid and gave unstintingly of his time in involvement with and advancing the swimming club, the lifesaving club, the boxing club and the Garda Sports Club, all of which are still flourishing. “In fact, very few sporting organisations have not had some input from this remarkable man. At every juncture on this journey, he received the full, active support of all the family, most of whom are well-known for their involvement in various sporting activities.” The members said that he was instrumental in having Lees Road built. “It would be most apt to name the Lees Road complex after him as he was a founding member of the Ennis and District Sports Facilities Committee, which first suggested such a development. John showed his commitment to the cause by attending every single meeting of that group and he met representatives of the council on many occasions. “When an impasse was reached over a suitable location for this project, John, through his contacts, discovered the possible availability of the present Lees Road site. “During the long drawn-out discussions which led to the present fine facility, John’s temperament throughout many fraught occasions calmed many flashpoints and ensured ongoing progress. He continued to make submissions on improvements to the facilities as he saw the need,” the letter stated. The proposal was supported by a number of councillors. Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn questioned the suitability of naming facilities after individuals but director of services Ger Dollard said that there is a precedent there in Tim Smythe Park. |
Sporting /Volunteer life
Both within the Garda Siochana and outside it, John has had a keen interest in being involved in sport, and has promoted and organised many sporting activities, including football, swimming, athletics, Community Games, boxing, handball and road bowling. He believed strongly the immense mutual benefits accrued for the community and the Gardai when members of the force involved themselves locally, particularly with young people through sport and other activities. He practised this concept in every area he served.
While stationed in Miltown John became involved in many sporting events. In 1960 established a boxing club in Miltown Malbay. He became Chairman and Coach of the club till 1963 and organised many boxing tournaments in West Clare.
He was secretary of the Clare Garda Sports Committee (Coiste Roinne) as well as holding posts in the Provincial and National Executives. He also served as boxing, athletic and swimming organiser and representative. John also took part in the Garda Swimming championships in Dublin in the 1960s.
John became a member of the Miltown Malbay swimming and Lifesaving club and qualified as a life saving instructor as well as holding an advanced swimming certificate.
He also became captain of the Clare lifesaving team in 1962 and was runner up in the All Ireland life saving championships which was held at Castlera, Co. Roscommon
In 1963 John finished 2nd in the White Strand open men’s bay swim.
In 1963 John was a founder member of the revived Ennis boxing club. He was chairman, public relations officer and juvenile coach till 1970. In 1965 he qualified as a judge of the Irish amateur boxing association and officiated at county, provincial and national level.
In the 1960s and the 1970s John was a member of the Ennis and Adare Golf Clubs. In May 1970 he was the top scorer and National Weekly Winner of the Sunday Independent Philips (Electrical) Ireland Ltd. Golf competition.
In the early seventies he joined Marian Athletic Club and as a club officer and coach he has played a very active role in all club activities over the years, and was also vice-chairman. He was one of the principal organisers of the club’s trip to the New York marathon in 1982, when ninety club members and friends travelled and twenty-one athletes took part in the marathon.
He has been an officer of the County Board of B.L.O.E. Junior and B.L.E Senior for many years and was Registrar of the Munster Council of B.L.E. He has officiated as an athletic official at Provincial and National level.
He has been a member of the County Clare Youth and Sport Advisory Body established by the County Clare Educational Committee at the request of Cospoir. He has also been a member of the Ennis Swimming and Life-Saving Club.
John became involved in Ennis and Clare Community Games in the early seventies and was in Mosney in 1973 when the first Games were held there. He served in various capacities as a National official and was the National Cross-Country Co-Ordinator for a number of years when the event was introduced.
He had been County Co-Ordinator for Pitch and Putt, Gaelic football and athletics and has held many officer positions on the County Executive, including chairman from 1980-1983 and County Vice President as well as being Munster Delegate on the National Executive Committee.
John was instrumental in starting a FAS employment scheme that employed 13 people to help develop Community Games throughout the county growing areas from 33 to 44.
He has been president since 1998 of Clare Community Games and has been instrumental in organizing and ensuring the smooth running of the County athletics Finals each year and encouraging a big team of officials to give of their time for the benefit of the children of the county.
He is the editor of the 21st Anniversary Souvenir Book- “A history of Clare Community Games”, which was launched by Olympic champion, Ronnie Delaney in April, 1993 and which has received many excellent reviews. In addition he was editor of the 30th and 40th anniversary programmes with details of all that is good in Community Games (the envy of all other 31 counties.)
John’s remarkable contribution to the promotion, and encouragement of young people in so many sporting and cultural events was what he was about. He was an advocate for obtaining a sporting facility for the community and was part of a team who worked together in obtaining the great sporting facility at Lees road.
This in turn led to his involvement with the Clare Sports Partnership team who facilitate people of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to participate in sporting activities
While stationed in Miltown John became involved in many sporting events. In 1960 established a boxing club in Miltown Malbay. He became Chairman and Coach of the club till 1963 and organised many boxing tournaments in West Clare.
He was secretary of the Clare Garda Sports Committee (Coiste Roinne) as well as holding posts in the Provincial and National Executives. He also served as boxing, athletic and swimming organiser and representative. John also took part in the Garda Swimming championships in Dublin in the 1960s.
John became a member of the Miltown Malbay swimming and Lifesaving club and qualified as a life saving instructor as well as holding an advanced swimming certificate.
He also became captain of the Clare lifesaving team in 1962 and was runner up in the All Ireland life saving championships which was held at Castlera, Co. Roscommon
In 1963 John finished 2nd in the White Strand open men’s bay swim.
In 1963 John was a founder member of the revived Ennis boxing club. He was chairman, public relations officer and juvenile coach till 1970. In 1965 he qualified as a judge of the Irish amateur boxing association and officiated at county, provincial and national level.
In the 1960s and the 1970s John was a member of the Ennis and Adare Golf Clubs. In May 1970 he was the top scorer and National Weekly Winner of the Sunday Independent Philips (Electrical) Ireland Ltd. Golf competition.
In the early seventies he joined Marian Athletic Club and as a club officer and coach he has played a very active role in all club activities over the years, and was also vice-chairman. He was one of the principal organisers of the club’s trip to the New York marathon in 1982, when ninety club members and friends travelled and twenty-one athletes took part in the marathon.
He has been an officer of the County Board of B.L.O.E. Junior and B.L.E Senior for many years and was Registrar of the Munster Council of B.L.E. He has officiated as an athletic official at Provincial and National level.
He has been a member of the County Clare Youth and Sport Advisory Body established by the County Clare Educational Committee at the request of Cospoir. He has also been a member of the Ennis Swimming and Life-Saving Club.
John became involved in Ennis and Clare Community Games in the early seventies and was in Mosney in 1973 when the first Games were held there. He served in various capacities as a National official and was the National Cross-Country Co-Ordinator for a number of years when the event was introduced.
He had been County Co-Ordinator for Pitch and Putt, Gaelic football and athletics and has held many officer positions on the County Executive, including chairman from 1980-1983 and County Vice President as well as being Munster Delegate on the National Executive Committee.
John was instrumental in starting a FAS employment scheme that employed 13 people to help develop Community Games throughout the county growing areas from 33 to 44.
He has been president since 1998 of Clare Community Games and has been instrumental in organizing and ensuring the smooth running of the County athletics Finals each year and encouraging a big team of officials to give of their time for the benefit of the children of the county.
He is the editor of the 21st Anniversary Souvenir Book- “A history of Clare Community Games”, which was launched by Olympic champion, Ronnie Delaney in April, 1993 and which has received many excellent reviews. In addition he was editor of the 30th and 40th anniversary programmes with details of all that is good in Community Games (the envy of all other 31 counties.)
John’s remarkable contribution to the promotion, and encouragement of young people in so many sporting and cultural events was what he was about. He was an advocate for obtaining a sporting facility for the community and was part of a team who worked together in obtaining the great sporting facility at Lees road.
This in turn led to his involvement with the Clare Sports Partnership team who facilitate people of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to participate in sporting activities
Awards
A number of special awards have been made over the years to John in recognition of the remarkable work he has done in promoting and organising various sporting activities for young people. In July 1984, he and his wife Cecilia, (who has also been very much involved with many sporting organisations, and was the County Secretary of Community Games for many years) were presented with the Clare Sports Personality of the Year award by Jimmy McGee of RTE in the West County Hotel for their long commitment and contribution to Clare Community Games and to athletics.
In 1986 the Clare County Executive of Community Games mad a special presentation to John and his wife for their loyal service and dedication to the Games over the years.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Garda Athletic Association (Coiste Siamsa) the National Executive honoured members of the force who had made outstanding contribution to sport in the force. A special silver jubilee award was presented by the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey to John and three other for their outstanding contributions to sport in the Garda Siochana as organisers an administrators at a presentation banquet in Burlington Hotel, Dublin in November, 1987.
In 1991 he was presented by the County Executive of Clare Community Games with the coveted Clare Community Games Hall of Fame award for his outstanding service to the Games.
At a special function at the Auburn Lodge Hotel, Ennis in November 1993 at which many Limerick Divisions attended, as a well representatives of Marian Athletic Club, Ennis and Clare Community Games, many glowing tributes were paid to John O’Sullivan for his distinguished service in the Garda Siochana for the remarkable contribution both he and his wife Cecilia have made in providing opportunities for the young people of the county to participate in so many sporting an cultural activities.
John O’Sullivan will be remembered as an ambassador, a visionary, a man apart, a community man, a great friend and above all a family man. A true Gentleman who served his community well.
Contributed by Irene O’Sullivan
In 1986 the Clare County Executive of Community Games mad a special presentation to John and his wife for their loyal service and dedication to the Games over the years.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Garda Athletic Association (Coiste Siamsa) the National Executive honoured members of the force who had made outstanding contribution to sport in the force. A special silver jubilee award was presented by the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey to John and three other for their outstanding contributions to sport in the Garda Siochana as organisers an administrators at a presentation banquet in Burlington Hotel, Dublin in November, 1987.
In 1991 he was presented by the County Executive of Clare Community Games with the coveted Clare Community Games Hall of Fame award for his outstanding service to the Games.
At a special function at the Auburn Lodge Hotel, Ennis in November 1993 at which many Limerick Divisions attended, as a well representatives of Marian Athletic Club, Ennis and Clare Community Games, many glowing tributes were paid to John O’Sullivan for his distinguished service in the Garda Siochana for the remarkable contribution both he and his wife Cecilia have made in providing opportunities for the young people of the county to participate in so many sporting an cultural activities.
John O’Sullivan will be remembered as an ambassador, a visionary, a man apart, a community man, a great friend and above all a family man. A true Gentleman who served his community well.
Contributed by Irene O’Sullivan
