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Post date: Feb 26, 2020 2:43:38 PM
(The late Sean 'Hooper' Farrell)
On Tuesday evening the club learned of the sad news that one of our most iconic and legendary footballers and hurler Sean 'Hooper' Farrell sadly passed away at his home in Edenderry.
The name 'Hooper' is synonymous with Edenderry and Offaly GAA in football, hurling and ladies football and Sean was recognised with the Edenderry GAA Hall of Fame award in 2017 following a career spanning six decades of involvement with the club in both a playing and administration capacity.
He won his first championship medal at school level in 1947, an U16 in 1949, minor in 1951 and two senior medals in 1953 and 1957 as well as contributing to the famous Phoenix cup victories in Clonmel in 1959 and 1961.
His finest hour in the red jersey came in the 1957 county final when he scored 1-3 against Clara despite being marked by one of Offaly's greatest ever defenders, Peter Nolan. Sean played minor football for Offaly in 1951 and he was captain of the Offaly minors in 1952. He was on the Offaly senior football team who played in the Leinster final defeat to Meath in 1954 and was also part of the Offaly panel when they won their first ever O'Byrne cup that same year.
Hooper's skills weren't just confined to the big ball however as he also won a minor hurling medal in 1952, a junior medal in 1953 and an intermediate title in 1954. He won his second junior medal in 1962 and his second intermediate medal in 1963. Having played for the reds for eighteen years Sean 'Hooper' Farrell retired from playing Gaelic Games but he stayed involved serving as Hon. Secretary and Hon. Chairman.
The late 1970's represented a remarkable time in Offaly ladies GAA and it was under the tutelage of 'Hooper' that Offaly lifted four Leinster football titles between 1976-1979 culminating with a 1979 All-Ireland title victory with daughter Doreen captaining the side.
Speaking at his 2017 Hall of Fame induction, 'Hooper' stated that seeing Doreen captain Offaly to an All-Ireland title was one of his proudest moments involved in GAA.
Former Edenderry manager Paul O'Kelly, who was appointed by 'Hooper' and guided Edenderry to a senior football title in 1985, thanked Sean at the club awards night in 2017 for showing "the courage and trust to give me the opportunity to coach our junior and senior teams". He concluded by adding "You were the leader, you made the breakthrough happen, by enabling people to make things happen".
Sean's loss will be felt throughout the community and everyone at Edenderry GAA extends their deepest sympathies to his wife Elizabeth, sons Des, Se Se and Sean Óg, daughters Doreen, Carmel and Michelle, his grand children, great grand children and many many friends. As the man himself once said "Any GAA man is a good friend of mine".
To borrow another phrase from the legendary man himself:
"You are one of our own, a true red, one of the greats".
Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.
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