'His kind heart, his gentlemanly way': Cork GAA great Jimmy Lynam remembered at funeral
RIP: Cork All-Ireland hurling title winner, the late Jimmy Lynam. Pic: David Creedon
Glen Rovers, St Nick's and Cork great Jimmy Lynam has been remembered as a kind-hearted family man with a great love for the GAA and the memories and pride it provided him with throughout his 100 years of life.
Lynam, a two-time All-Ireland winner with Cork in 1952 and 1953, passed away on Sunday last surrounded by family and loved ones at Ballynoe nursing home.
Late club stalwart Lynam enjoyed great success with the Glen in hurling, earning seven Cork SHC medals between 1944 and 1954, and St Nick's in football, where he was part of the Cork SFC-winning side in 1954, but his love for the GAA stretched far and beyond past his playing days, as an administrator with both clubs.
As noted by his son Kieran at his 100th birthday celebration last year, the GAA provided him with a "purpose and gave him friends for life".
Kieran further illustrated his love for the GAA and those he played alongside in his eulogy during his father's funeral mass.
"I would like to start by asking Jimmy's favourite question: 'Have you any interest in hurling?'" Kieran told those in attendance at the North Cathedral. "For many years at appointments, functions, or just going about normal business like shopping in Dunnes, if a stranger was next to Jimmy, that was the opening line.
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"Depending on the answer, the unsuspecting companion either got a 10 cent tour of Jimmy's life, or if the answer was yes, he or she got the gold tour. 'Have you heard of Christy Ring or Jack Lynch?' was very often the next question, and if you answered yes, well then you opened Pandora's box.
"I remember one time in a reception area, as two ladies sitting behind a desk were told by Jimmy that he had had the privilege of playing alongside the king for 14 years. Stunned, one of them replied: 'You played with Elvis?'
"'No', says Jimmy, 'the real king, Christy Ring'."
Kieran continued: "For a man with such strong faith, Jimmy was guilty of one of the seven deadly sins, pride.
"He was proud of his career with the Glen and St Nick's, being part of league and championship winning teams, and of course the honour of being selected to play for his county and wear the colours, going on to win two All-Irelands and a handful of National Leagues."
Undoubtedly, while the GAA was a great love and pastime for Lynam, family was the thing of most importance.
Telling stories of his childhood with his loved ones, and their sporting exploits, as well holding a keen interest in how the younger generations were getting on were paramount in Lynam's life.
"To no surprise, family was the most important thing to Jimmy," Kieran added. "He loved telling stories of his childhood... we would hear of Noel, the baby brother, and his talent as a hurler, along with Gus and his achievements in football, the English version, but Jimmy didn't mind that because it was sport.
"He was proud of his family and the life that he and my mother Mary created, especially my sister Mary and myself.
"He was also so proud and loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, right to the end.
"He had a great interest in their lives, always asking how they were getting on in work and loved when he was told about their travels to foreign lands, loved looking at photos of their journey through life, worrying as he did if they had paid their car tax or insurance or if they had the right tyres on for wet weather."
Kieran concluded: "Jimmy lived a long, happy life full of faith, joy, pride, love and adventure. He will be remembered for his kind heart, his gentlemanly way, his winning smile and the twinkle in his baby blue eyes."
The late Cork legend was fittingly shouldered out with the Glen colours draped over his coffin to the sound of
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