Former Kerry footballer and manager Mick O'Dwyer has been remembered as a "giant both on and off the field" at his funeral mass in Waterville this morning.
Mr O'Dwyer died on Thursday at the age of 88.
He won 12 All-Ireland titles as a player and manager with the Kerry footballers over the course of his 33-year involvement with his native county.
He also managed Kildare and Laois to Leinster titles, and had spells managing Wicklow and Clare as well.
A large crowd turned out to pay their respects at the funeral mass at St Finian's Church in the south Kerry village, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Among those in attendance were Taoiseach Micheál Martin, GAA President Jarlath Burns, and a representative of President Michael D Higgins.
The Chief Celebrant at the funeral mass said Mick O'Dwyer "made such an impact", adding the former football manager "became the very fabric of our lives growing up."
Fr Sean Jones said 'Micko’ was described as always having the desire to spread the gospel of the game and "he did it in spades."
The parish priest of Waterville said it was "a sad day" for the people of the area and "indeed for all who have come to know Micko in life".
"Our native son, who achieved so much and given so much."
He said Mick O’Dwyer’s soul has begun its journey to eternal life, from "one Kingdom to the Kingdom of Heaven."
Delivering his eulogy was long-time friend of over 40 years Michael O’Flynn, who described him as a mentor, leader, and friend.
He said 'Micko’ had a sporting career which was the "stuff of legends" and had a playing style which won the admiration of teammates and opponents alike.
"His vision and leadership helped to propel Kerry football into a new era of dominance, but it was his ability to inspire and bring out the best in those around him that set him apart," said Mr O’Flynn.
"His strategic genius, paired with his deep understanding of the game, helped shape the careers of players who went on to become legends themselves, too many to mention."
"He always had time for people, no matter how busy his life was"
Among the offertory gifts presented during the mass were a football and a mini Sam Maguire cup "as a reminder that the real one is never too far away", as well as his accordion to represent his love of music and social gatherings.
Referencing his time coaching Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Wicklow and Clare, Mr O’Flynn said Micko taught "a discipline, dedication and life skills I am sure many of his former players brought forward into their personal lives".
He said while Mr O’Dwyer’s success on the field was extraordinary, it was his character off the field that will be remembered most fondly.
"Micko’s loyalty was unmatched - to his players, his friends, his community and his family," he said.
"He always had time for people, no matter how busy his life was."
"Micko, you were a giant in the world of Gaelic football, but more importantly, you were a giant in the lives of those who knew and loved you."
"Micko was a very matter of fact type of man, and while like many men of his generation, he might not have been great at expressing his feelings, he was deeply proud of his four sons, John, Robbie, Karl and Haulie, who sadly passed in 2022.
"He was astoundingly intelligent, effortlessly articulate, and entirely self-educated - a man whose natural instincts alone propelled him to remarkable achievements."
Mr O’Flynn said 'Micko' was not just a proud Kerry man, but "a Waterville man through and through", where he played an invaluable role in the community which "will never be forgotten."
"Today, as we remember Mick O'Dwyer, let us not only celebrate his brilliance as a footballer and manager, but also the kindness, the loyalty, and the friendship that he gave so freely to each and every one of us.
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"Let us be inspired by the way he lived his life and the values he held dear. Micko may no longer be with us in body, but his legacy, his lessons, and his friendship will live on in all of us, forever. His statue in the centre of Waterville will survive the generations and so it should.
"Micko, you were a giant in the world of Gaelic football, but more importantly, you were a giant in the lives of those who knew and loved you."
Mr O'Dwyer was a hotelier and undertaker in his native Waterville. His first wife Mary Carmel died in 2012 and he married Geraldine Shields in 2023.
He is survived by his wife Geraldine, his sons John, Robbie and Karl, and is pre-deceased by another son Michael.
