Mayo mourns passing of Ladies GAA legend
THERE is widespread shock and sadness in Mayo GAA circles after the news broke earlier today of the death of one of the country's best and most successful Ladies Gaelic Football club managers, Jimmy Corbett, Rostigue, Carnacon, Ballyglass.
A founder of Carnacon Ladies GAA Club in 1986, his passing represents the end of an era as he was truly a legend of the sport.
During his long association with Carnacon GAA Club and county squad, he helped put ladies football in the county firmly on the map after as teams managed by him won numerous All-Ireland senior football titles.
He was one of the most charismatic and popular figures the association has ever produced and was at the same time an immensely modest man.
I would count myself, like endless others, extremely fortunate to have met him on numerous occasions down through the years.
For Jimmy, Carnacon GAA Club was his first love. He was the heartbeat of the club and instilled it with great values.
Under his watch the club produced many great players, including Cora Staunton, who is regarded as the greatest ladies Gaelic footballers of all time.
Many of them have represented the county down through the years at all levels.
Despite being a small rural club Carnacon is arguably the most famous club in ladies football in Ireland.
Since its foundation, their senior team alone won six All-Ireland titles, 16 Connaught crowns, and 20 times county champions. Numerous county and national titles were also won by Carnacon at underage as well.
These records alone speak volumes of how magnificent a coach and mentor the late Jimmy was.
Jimmy is survived by his wife Sadie, daughters Michelle, Lorraine, Yvonne and Marie, sons Kevin, Damien, Michael Declan and Brian, extended family, neighbours and his numerous GAA friends in Carnacon, Mayo and throughout the country, to whom sympathy is tendered.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
His remains will be reposing at Carnacon Community Centre on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m.
Private removal from the family home takes place on Tuesday for Requiem Mass at 12.30 p.m. at St. Mary's Church, Carnacon, with burial afterwards in Burriscarra Cemetery.