A light goes out in Upperchurch-Drombane's proudest week

Keith Ryan has captained the club’s hurlers to a historic visit to Croke Park for Saturday’s All-Ireland club intermediate final. But this week a central figure in the community, Niamh Kinnane, has died.

AIB ambassador Keith Ryan (Upperchurch Drombane) ahead of the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Final between Tooreen and Upperchurch Drombane. A historic club championship season, defined by thrilling encounters and unprecedented journeys, culminates in eagerly anticipated AIB GAA Hurling Intermediate and Junior club finals taking centre stage on Saturday January 10th. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

A cloud hung low this week over Upperchurch-Drombane’s idyllic winter. A central figure in the community, Niamh Kinnane, has died. A publican — Paddy Kinnane’s famed place that draws them from all over — but so much more. 

In a beautiful tribute on Tipp FM, John G O’Dwyer put it like this: “A light has gone out in all our lives. She got so many things done for Upperchurch. Made it a model of how communities should develop.”