The Doheny GAA Club and the wider community of Dunmanway is in mourning following the sudden death of Tony O’Sullivan also affectionately known as “The Kerryman”. Our thoughts and prayers at this time are with his wife Sinead and his young children Luke and Roisin.
Tony who originally hailed from Castlecove, South Kerry came to Dunmanway in the mid 80s to work in the Parkway Hotel and he remained in Dunmanway ever since. “You can take the boy out of the county, but you can't take the county out of the boy”. Tony remained loyal to his birth county, proudly wore the green and gold of Kerry and flew the Kerry flags when Kerry were on a championship run. It didn’t take huge imagination but Tony O’Sullivan became better known as Tony the Kerryman.
Tony played Junior football with the Dohenys in the eighties, a dainty corner forward with a lethal left leg he reckoned, the original Gooch. Tony was full of energy, always on the go. His infectious enthusiasm and energy for GAA couldn’t but rub off on people and it made him a successful team manager. He was manager of the Junior B team that won the West Cork Championship in 2015 and he was also team manager of the U21 A footballers that won the 2017 West Cork Championship. He served as Junior A manager and was a selector with the senior team over the years. Tony was straight talking and to the point. He wouldn’t sugar coat it if a player wasn’t playing up to scratch. He always managed to get a positive reaction out of players. Tony very much wore his heart on his sleeve and people respected him for that. He never refused to help when asked and was a great Clubman. He also transferred his great energy into his work, a fantastic barman in his day in the Parkway and he also ran his own successful company, A-Z bouncing castles and marquee hire.
Anyone that knew Tony holds him in the highest regard, and that is a testament to his character and personality. His untimely passing will undoubtedly leave a large void in all of our lives, especially in lives of his family whom he greatly adored.
To his wife Sinead and children Luke, Roisín and the late James, we pass on our sincere sympathies and deepest condolences. Tony has now passed to his eternal rest and will be rightly welcomed by the deceased members of the Doheny community that have gone before him and with them, will not be forgotten.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. Mo chóbhrón dá chlann is dá cháirde uilig. Is mó an chailiút dóibh suid ná dúinne.