Sporting legends pay their respects to Killarney’s Denis Coffey

SPORTING legends spanning many codes were in Killarney yesterday for the funeral Mass of popular businessman and sportsman Denis Coffey who died suddenly at the weekend.

An accountant and a partner in the long-established Kerry firm O’Brien Coffey, the Killarney native was a former captain and president of Killarney Golf and Fishing Club and a footballer of considerable renown with local club Dr Crokes. He also played Sigerson Cup football with UCC and served as treasurer on the Fitzgerald Stadium committee for some time.

He played a very instrumental role in Killarney securing the Irish Open golf championship for the first time in 1991 and he served as tournament director and chairman of the organising committee for the event won by Nick Faldo.