St Mary's College RFC Yearbook 2020-21

OBITUARY
Jim Murray, RIP
Jim Murray has just died. All who knew him
will mourn deeply, a member, who was a
deep blue St Mary’s College RFC man. This
blighted year, 2020, has cruelly taken some
of the club’s greatest men and now has
added to its list.
Jim has not been well for a number of years
now. His devoted wife. Rose, has
unwaveringly cared for him throughout his
illness. Jim never whimpered, as ever, he
bravely wore his engaging smile and his
floppy hat to the end, without loss of love or
hope.
In 1959, a gangly young man with a smiling
face and a willing heart, joined, what was to
be his club for life, straight from school at St
Mary’s College. He was the epitome of a
team man, never shirking and always
supporting others, on and off the field. That
affability he showed then, was to make him
an admirable and ever active ambassador for
the club he loved. He was of course a fine
player and played at several levels including
senior.
Being a successful insurance man, his job
took him to Galway for a number of years
and while there, he played for Galwegians
RFC, where he was universally popular and
admired. He kept friendships with his
teammates of that time, all his life and spoke
fondly of Joey Costello, Danno Heaslip and
Michael Casserly (A International) with
whom he shared the second row. In fact that
was an admirable trait in Jim, as he kept
lifelong friends from many walks of life, and
geographical locations. Up to his death he
was a close friend of former Marys’ player,
Pat Drennan who lives in Australia.
When Jim returned from Galway to Dublin,
he continued to play, taking up where he left
off. When he retired he became involved in
club affairs and was the first to volunteer for
any job, big or small. In time he got the
biggest job the club can offer, presidency, in
1987-88. He was an effective and
103
Jim Murray
exceptionally popular president. He greatly
cherished and enjoyed his time as president.
It was a truly happy presidency, as all
involved attest. He continued to be involved
in rugby matters after his presidency, and
was an active supporter up to this year. He
travelled to most of the away AIL matches.
He was a knowledgeable rugby man; and
most of all in his more mature years, an
outstanding ambassador for his Marys.
Never, was visiting alickadoo left standing
alone or without a beverage, when Jim was
around. He was thus, immensely popular
throughout the rugby world and rightly so.
It was great joy to Jim, that his son, Eamon,
played for St Mary’s and is still an active and
popular member.
Jim’s passing has added a dark cloud over
our club and pain to all who knew him.
We have lost a quintessential St Mary’s man.
D. O’Brien