All in the club were deeply saddened today to learn of the passing of John Kissane.

John Kissane

Originally from Doon East, Ballybunion, the Kerry native moved to Nenagh in the 1980s and found a home in Nenagh Éire Óg where he would have a massive influence both as a player and coach.

He was a part of the intermediate and junior football teams that captured North and county honours in 1986 and 1988 but it was for his Gaelic football coaching that will be fondly remembered by many.

During the 1980s and 1990s Nenagh was one of the most dominant clubs in Gaelic football in the county and won numerous honours, both in the North and county during this period, thanks to the influence of John.

With John as coach, the club won an impressive seven North Tipperary senior football titles, two North Tipperary intermediate championships, seven under-21 titles and seven minor titles as well as a myriad of juvenile crowns. We also won two county intermediate, two county junior, two county under-21, one county minor, two county under-16, one county under-14 and two under-12 county titles, all in the A grade, under John’s watchful eye.

Thanks to John’s coaching and influence a large number of players from Nenagh Éire Óg represented Tipperary at inter-county level. He was very proud of the senior career of Mark Sheahan and 1998 was a particularly satisfying time for him as three of his players, Chris Bonar, Jim McAuliffe and captain Kevin Coonan, were part of the Tipperary junior football team that won the Munster and All-Ireland finals. He also coached Brian Farrell who was part of the Tipperary minor football panel in 1995 that captured the Munster title.

John himself was also an accomplished referee who took charge of numerous games within the county while his son Alan has become one of the top up and coming referees in Munster. John was also a selector with the Tipperary under-21 sides in 1993 and 1994 and was heavily involved with numerous divisional North Tipperary sides.

To Alan, Mairead (Young), Enda and Amy, grandchildren Ewan, Ronan, Garvan, Sarah, Noah, Clodagh, Daire, Emmett and Aoife, son-in-law Alan, daughters-in-law Marisa and Orla, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, neighbours, relatives and friends the club offers its sincerest sympathies.

Funeral Arrangements

Reposing in Ryan’s Funeral Home, Nenagh this Wednesday from 4.30pm with removal at 7pm to arrive to St. Mary’s of the Rosary Church, Nenagh at 7.30pm. Requiem Mass on Thursday at 12 noon followed by burial in Castletown Graveyard.