Dunderry's G.AA.Club's favourite adopted grandfather Jack Devine passed over his well thumbed journals and pencils after a well documented life of reportage and activity for the Club for well over a half century and after nearly a century of a well lived GAA and family life overall.
Jack was a founding member of a very good Boyerstown Club along with such luminaries as Peter Callaghan,father of such as Henry deceased ,Mickey,the late Peter deceased,Gerry and Oliver which were promising in their own right but who realized that were significant progress to be made they would be better off throwing their lot with an emerging Dunderry outfit at the time ,which was led by my uncle Tommy M c Cormack in the mid 1960's.
And so it emerged and progressed ,that team going on to win an Internmediate Football Championship in the early 1970's.A team of Kings.
Although the minute books of the Club from then on have been mislaid I am sure the Jack then became and remained until his death on Christmas Eve a full executive member of the GAA Club.
I am sure he served in many executive positions over the decades but it will be mainly as a PRO Officer that many will remember him.
Which of us have in our minds eyes a permanent memory of Billy Bligh practically air lifting Jack by the shoulder from gate to shelter across every conceivable pitch in Meath to afford Jack a prime view to every game involving Dunderry.
And woe betide anyone who tried to impede Billy's progress.
At every AGM Jack produced copies of reports on every Adult Dunderry GAA match ,citing reams,players scorers and substitutes.
They were spot on always.
His talent was recognised not only at Club level but time out of knowledge he won Meath PRO of the Year and if I am not mistaken Sean Gael of the year also.
Those who lived in that part of the country where Jack lived have often informed me that when cars were scarce there were two families whoo were sure to give a lift ,the Devines and Dinny Brae,not a bad recommendation.
If you are well thought of by your neighbours it is always a good sign.
Similarly in his workplace.Jack was a rate collector,as far as I know he served the area patrolled by the St..Colmcille club around Laytown ans Bettystown.I sometimes heard him inquire about certain former clients from those areas,always with affection too I must say.
I served on the Executives with Jack for decades .Although we were not the closest we were straight with each other,which is fair enough..
Billy Bligh adored Jack and drove him everywhere ,every Sunday ,whether to follow Dunderry,Meath or anyother GAA match.
The story is still recounted of when in pursuit of an elusive GAA match they deove into league OF IRELAND SOCCER MATCH as a last resort.God's truth.
I have met his dignified wife Cella and only one of his daughters Mary but not as far as I know Kathleen,,Patricia nor Anne.
Mary is as strong a Gael as her father ever was ,has swung the caman to advantage with Navan O Mahony's with whom my daughter Mags now does likewise and I understand she as as a teacher in the Primary School near the County Club ,has produced several senior hurlers and footballers for Ratho to promote the games of the Gaels thereabouts.
His reportage in this life is over now and his mortal remains will be lying in Fitzsimons Funeral Home on St.Stephens DAY FROM 3.00 P.M TO 6.00 PM.THENCE TO ST.ULTANS CHURCH Bohermaam at 7'00 p.m.
Funeral Mass at 11.00 a.m.Friday with burial afterwards in Boyerstown.
On my behalf and of the Gaels of the Parish I OFFER MY SINCEREST CONDOLONCES TO HIS WIFE ,DAUGHETS AND ALL HIS RELATIVES,
Ar Dheis De go raibh a Hanam Dilis.
