NEILIE GRIFFIN: Former Gleneagle Lakers team manager Neilie Griffin with his wife Mary and grandson Kai Tangney at a Scotts Lakers match in Killarney Sports Centre earlier this season. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

By Eamonn Keogh

Killarney bid a fond farewell to popular local man Neilie Griffin, who passed away last weekend after a brave battle with illness. Neilie, from Pinewood Estate and formerly of Moulagh, Fossa, Killarney, was a familiar face in Killarney town through his dedicated work with the local Council.

Since the sad news of Neilie's death last Friday, there have been many warm tributes to the popular man on social media. The words 'True Gentleman' feature prominently by several people recalling their fond memories of Neilie.

At Neilie's Funeral Mass on Monday, Fr Jim Linehan described him as a great family man and recalled his outstanding work with the Council and his wonderful commitment to St Paul's Basketball Club.

Neilie's former work colleagues in Killarney Town Council and members of St Paul's Basketball Club provided guards of honour as they escorted the funeral cortege from O'Shea's Funeral Home through Killarney town on Sunday evening, and at The Church Of The Resurrection on Monday.

Neilie was also well-known in sporting circles where he gave tremendous service to St Paul's Basketball Club for several years. During the ‘90s and noughties, Neilie was the team manager with the St Paul's Senior Men’s National League teams that played under the Kerry Spring and Gleneagle Lakers banner. He travelled the length and breadth of the country with the team and was a popular and respected figure among the players and officials. Always reliable and obliging, no job was ever too big or small for Neilie, who was also very instrumental in spearheading various fundraising initiatives for the club.
Neilie, and all the Griffin family, have given St Paul's excellent service on and off the court over the years. His wife Mary was a very active member of the club's juvenile committee for many years and one of their proudest moments in basketball was to witness their daughter Diane representing Ireland on the international stage. Their son John was also an outstanding player winning an U19 national cup with St Paul's in 1997 and played in the SuperLeague for several years with Gleneagle Lakers. Their other daughters, Siobhan and Aislinn, also represented St Paul's at various levels.

Neilie's interest in basketball never waned and he was delighted to see the return of national league basketball to Killarney two years ago after an absence of nearly a decade. Despite battling an unfortunate illness, he was a regular at Scotts Lakers home games in Killarney Sports Centre and always had a kind word for everyone.

Neilie is survived by his wife Mary, son John and daughters Diane, Siobhán and Aislinn, and extended family.

[caption id="attachment_26250" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] St Paul's Basketball Club and staff from Killarney Town Council providing guards of honour for the funeral cortege of popular local man Neilie Griffin through Killarney town on Sunday evening. Picture: Eamonn Keogh[/caption]