A giant on and off the field

Moving tributes at funeral of former Kerry player and boss Micko O'Dwyer O'NEW

- BY CATE MCCURRY

LEGENDARY Gaelic footballer and manager Mick O'Dwyer has been remembered as a "giant" both on and off the field.

Mourners who packed into his funeral at St Finian's Church in his native Waterville, Co Kerry, heard how he inspired countless footballers and was loved by the nation.

O'Dwyer won four All-Ireland titles with his beloved Kerry as a player between 1959 and 1970, and an unrivalled eight as a manager in the 1970s and 1980s.

He would also go on to coach Kildare, Laois, Wicklow and Clare.

Known as Micko, he was inducted into the GAA Hall of Fame in 2014.

Among those paying their respects were Taoiseach Micheal Martin, GAA president Jarlath Burns, a representative of President Michael D Higgins, as well as GAA commentator Marty Morrissey and Kerry GAA legend Pat Spillane.

Mr Morrissey was among those to pay tribute to Micko during the funeral mass.

Delivering his eulogy, he said: "Through your talents as a footballer and a manager, you brought great joy to this magnificent county of Kerry.

"This is the kingdom and you will always be the king. But your gift goes beyond the county boundaries, where you brought happiness to the people of Kildare, Laois and Wicklow to levels those counties never really knew before or could hardly remember.