Talented Diffo had a heart of gold

Sean Diffley will forever be known to his friends as “Diffo” but to a wider world he was known as a fantastic sports journalist in a career spanning more than 60 years.

I first met him in the 70s when we met at an Irish underage athletic meet in Belfield and took an instant liking to him. He was the first Dublin journalist in my career who didn’t have a bias against country people! He insisted on driving me back to Heuston to make sure I got home on time while I wrote up the results frantically to drop into the Aston Quay offices for telexing back to Cork.

We soldiered together on the rugby scene on Munster, Irish and Lions tours and there was never a dull moment. We were a tight group; Ned Van Esbeck, Diffo, Karl Johnston and myself and built up a bond that cannot be replicated in today’s journalistic world.

Yes, there were years — in terms of age profile — to keep us apart but Diffo and I had a lot in common. We drank a bit, a lot at times, but we also laughed a lot and I always thought he had a heart of gold.

He annoyed me too. His idea of an early morning call was to have a taxi organised two hours before necessary. It was okay for him, his evening normally ended five hours before mine, but the memories of our travels will last.

His life revolved around a very beautiful family, his late wife Pam, daughters Jean, Ann Marie and Cathy and beloved grand children. May he rest in peace.