With heavy hearts and teary eyes, we prepare to say farewell to our friend and fellow club man John Dowd. Below, we share our thoughts and memories of John and try to describe just how much he meant to us all in Glinsk.

John Dowd was so many things to so many people, husband, father, friend, shopkeeper, A true Gael. His family business sits in the middle of our little village, and that’s where John Dowd will remain in our hearts and minds. The village shop is a unique place, yes its where you get your tea bags and bread but it’s also where you get the news, it’s the place where births, marriages and deaths are shared, Gaa, politics, and the weather are discussed. It’s the place where neighbours meet for a simple chat, and John Dowd was the familiar face waiting for you when you entered. John was a shopkeeper, but he was as much a counceler as anything else, listening to people’s problems and helping with a few simple words of wisdom. John was especially good with children , he went out of his way to make everyone feel welcome with a smile and a fist pump, lollipops and sweets were handed out free of charge and the kids left smiling after a visit to JOHN DOWDS shop. John suffered for many years with illness, but you wouldn’t have known it as he never allowed it to drag him down and always insisted ” Sure theres no point complaining “. John’s achievements with Glinsk Gaa are vast and listed below, he served the club with distinction as a player, manager, mentor, chairman, and sponsor. John and Mary watched on as supporters with great pride as their sons Cathal and Fergal continued to play, John was a true Glinsk man and true Gael. Even though he was just 71 years old , it felt like he has been around since time began and we will never ever forget him, his spirit lives on through his wife Mary who has shown amazing strength over the years and his sons Cathal , who shares a lot of John’s charistics and Fergal who shares a striking resemblance to his father. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tommy (dowdie) and the extended Dowd and Timothy families.

Thanks, John for your service to this village and your friendship over the years. You were deeply loved. Rest in peace.

John Dowd first donned the Glinsk jersey in 1968 as a member of the juvenile team that qualified for the County Quarter final. He went on to play u16, minor, u21 and junior with the club. He captained the Glinsk minor team in 1971 when Glinsk won the County minor final. He was also a member of the successful Glinsk/Creggs u 21 team which makes 1971 probably the greatest ever year in the history of the GAA in the parish. John also won a county Junior Championship medals in 1979 and league medals in 1977 and ’78. He was a member of the first Glinsk team to win an adult title in Galway when Glinsk defeated Dunmore in the North Board League final in 1985. He also won a County Junior B championship medal in 1991. He was elected chairman of the club in 1997, and under his stewardship he oversaw the development of the pitch,the introduction of the Glinsk GAA Lotto and the on field success of our Junior teams in 1998. He managed a number of underage teams and guided the Glinsk minor team to the North Board League final in 1997. He served both as a North Board and a Football Board delegate, and he also represented the club as a delegate to the Football Board Convention.