Shock and sadness is widespread in West Limerick and throughout the county following the death in the early hours of Tuesday morning of the chairman of the West Limerick G.A.A. Board, Jerry Molyneaux. A native of Knockaderry and a well-known photographer with the Weekly Observer, Jerry took ill in Ballybunion on Sunday afternoon and was airlifted to Limerick University Hospital where he passed away.
Jerry Molyneaux, who was 60, dedicated his life to the G.A.A. as a referee, coach and Board official and had been an officer of the West Board for over 30 years, during which time he served as its vice-chairman, assistant secretary, P.R.O. and for the last eighteen months as its chairman.
He held numerous coaching jobs in Limerick and Kerry and was a member of Phil Bennis’s backroom team when Limerick won the Munster and All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship in 1984, and the Munster and All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling Championship for the first time in 1987. He also had a stint as manager of the Kerry senior hurling team and was manager of the Limerick team that won the 2008 Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship.
Jerry’s love of Gaelic Games was only super-seded by his love for his family. He is survived by his wife Bernie, daughters Louise, Caoimhe and Cora, grandson Ronan, mother Nellie, sister Joan O’Mahony, brother Willie, and extended family.
Jerry will be greatly mourned and sadly missed by his colleagues in the Weekly Observer and Vale Star where he worked for the last 16 years. He will lie in repose on Thursday evening at home in Ballywilliam, Rathkeale, from 4 to 9pm. Funeral will arrive at St. Mary’s Church, Rathkeale on Friday at 11am for Requiem Mass, after which he will be laid to rest in Clouncagh New Cemetery.