The week that was saw our club President, Jimmy Collins, sadly, layed to rest. Our club and most especially, Jimmy's family have lost a really special person.

Jimmy's contribution to St.Mary's through many, many years has been immense. Generations of young aspiring Clonmel hurlers were greeted coming through the Western Road gates with a huge smile, genuine warmth and a passion for the game of hurling. Currently, a huge cohort of our club coaches and officials are former players who were cajoled and coached by Jimmy having imparted a love of the game and the St.Mary's club onto them.

Throughout his time in the club, he served multiple positions from coach, committee member, secretary and right up to Chairman and plugging any other hole that opened up too. On a wider GAA front, Jimmy took up the whistle and was deemed a fair adjudicator of the game across the division, which, was no mean feat itself.

Subsequently, he fulfilled administration roles with the South Divisional Board serving as Chairman and also came extremely close to getting the top position within the County, something, perhaps, Tipperary as a whole may have benefitted from.

Outside of sporting affairs, Jimmy was also a local activist, both politically with Labour and with various other community groups further cementing his love of helping others.

Our club has lost a great man, his family a great father.

Our sympathies go to Jimmy's family, daughters, Ger and Brídín, sons, Eddie, Joe and Jim along with his sister Peggy and all his grand and great grandchildren.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.