Mick O'Connor (1961 - 2006)

Another of Ballinagh's former stalwarts Mick O'Connor passed away last September in New York. Local gael and close friend, Paddy Smith has written the following tribute. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

What can you say about Mick O’Connor he was quiet, inoffensive and went quietly about his own business. But what a lot of us don’t know about Mick was that it was only by accident that he came to Cavan at all. His very good friend Billy Dooley from Killarney has said that Mick was a promising rising football star in his younger days and was destined for the great Kerry team of the eighties. He has told of his many great battles with a one Ambrose O’Donovan were a feature and also a baffle that Mick won most of the time. Ambrose went on to lift the Sam Maguire so by that standard Micko definitely had pedigree. But unfortunately for Mick he tore his knee ligaments a week before a Minor Final playing soccer would you believe and so put paid to Mick’s Kerry career. I for one am glad that Mick got his injury, had he not then myself or any of us here would have had the privilege of knowing him.

His quiet nature, his wry smile he never said too much but he was always great company. He had an infectious personality that made him friends wherever he went. So Kerry’s loss was definitely our great gain and so the great Micko would eventually land in Cavan as a Dunnes Stores manager.

Drumalee at the time of Mick’s arrival were poaching experts and were not long before they landed Mick out to the hill. Mick made many good friends with Drumalee and had many good days playing for them. Drumalee at that time had many good characters playing with them and Mick enjoyed his time with them. Seamus Fay their manager at the time has told me that a week before a championship game he had injuries to three of his top players. Those three players were Micko and his two good friends; the Late Sean Leddy and John Costello. Instead of training on the Thursday night Seamus sent the three over to a physic in Dundalk. They eventually landed back in Cavan on Saturday night, so you can make your own mind up on that one.

Micko at this time had also learned the art of poaching and it was not long before he was out in our town and made himself a catch. And a very good catch at that, Cait would be that catch. Around that time Mick would put in one of his best displays of football for Drumalee. A semi-final of the senior championship in the Centenary Year, against none other than ourselves Ballinagh. Mick went a good journey beating us on his own. Cait on meeting her mother Kathleen after the match, I can tell you it was not prayers that were said for Mick.

Mick had Cait’s heart won. He would win over Kathleen’s and Eammon’s also and indeed the rest of the Galligan family as well. So as it was it would only be a matter of time once he entered the door on the Cavan road that he would don the yellow jersey of Ballinagh. Mick put in many great displays with Ballinagh and we would have many great days with him. The greatest day coming in and helping us to only our second ever Senior Championship Final in our history.

Mick married Cait in 1986 and they both headed for the USA shortly after. Mick gave up the football for the small ball the game of golf. Both Cait and Mick were working hard and things were going well Cait would hold her occasional Ballinagh party with all the yellow colour and would have all the Ballinagh crew and a few along with them over. A home from home sorta and like Kathleen’s door here Mick ‘n Cait’s door was always open to anyone who went out there.

Just as with the football Mick was to excel at the game of golf and win many tournaments along the way. Padraic O’Reilly told me when he seen how good Mick was he would have to get him into the Cavan Golf Society. On telling the Club President about his great find Padraic he told him that he had only one setback he’s handicapped. ”HANDICAPPED”? Yes says Padraig he don’t talk but boy can he play golf, and how Mick could. Only last December ‘05 Mick was made Cavan Person of the year at their banquet; their biggest night of the year. I have heard that on that night Mick was well fit to talk. You can imagine the smirk of him that night.

Mick O’Connor made friends wherever he went America was no different to anywhere Mick had been before he could fit in anywhere. But Mick was to make an enemy, an enemy cancer. One that the majority of us here can relate to in one way or another. Mick was going to have to call on all his battling qualities and how this man battled.

For over two years Mick would battle, never complaining but always battling this cursed disease. Over the two years Mick would have many dark times but in all this troubled water Mick always had a rock to lean on and what a rock Cait turned out to be. No clear scans coming no good news but all this time Cait kept up her hopes and the hopes of Mick that the next one would be the clear one. The clear one that they prayed for and hoped for as we now know that clear sky never appeared for Mick or Cait.

During Mick’s illness another of our friends Frankie Connolly was fighting the same illness, Frankie being especially close to Cait ‘n Mick. Cait was in daily contact with her great friend Frankie. Sadly Frankie lost his battle to the illness. On the Saturday night before Frankie passed away he came-off all medication and wanted to say goodbye to his brothers that were out there with him and also to his very close friends them being Padraig Galligan; Micky Keane; Padraic O’Reilly; John Loui Smith and Mick ‘n Cait. There were a lot of tears on that dark night in New York and words were hard come by but Mick O’Connor’s words to Frankie that fateful night were, “When you see me coming put in a good word for me”; brave words from a very brave man.

But I don’t think that Mick would have needed a good word. I’m sure the Man above would have had his jersey washed pressed and ready to go. Just as anywhere Mick went he would be an automatic on his team. Mick finally succumbed to the illness last September. We can’t imagine the great loss and heartbreak that Cait and her two great children Padraig and Derbhla are going through. We have lost a great friend but they have lost a great Father, a great Husband, a great man, Cait’s best friend.

No doubt Cait you will see Mick in Padraig and Derbhla everyday, indeed Padraig is showing it already he being a great American Footballer and Derbhla excelling at her soccer. Needless to say both will excel just as their old man did. And you Cait when you are walking around your island and you feel that gentle American breeze in your face that you love so much, no doubt that will be the brave Mick just letting you know that he is not too far away.

And who are we to say that Mick did not win the battle, who’s to say that Mick didn’t cross the finishing line first and that we are just lagging way behind. And let us not forget Kathleen’s loss and how good her family have been to Mick and Cait. They are at a terrible loss and their heartbreak is enormous. A large part of their family has been ripped from them. Also to Mick’s Parents and Brothers we hope that Mick will not be to far away from you.

Mick you will be sorely missed by your family and the many friends you have made along the way I can truly say you were a true gentleman a great friend. We have all being blessed by having you in our midst be it for such a short time. We will miss you and we will get it hard to let you go.

Mick O’Connor when you see us coming please put in a good word
May You Rest In Peace Mick.