The passing of Jim Fogarty removes another important cog from the Ballyboden St Endas wheel of history. A Tipperary man from Drom (and Inch), Jim was one of a number who in September 1974 set up the first Juvenile Committee in the club’s history. 50 years later we continue to draw from that well but we should never forget those who dug the well in the first place. Like so many, Jim began his involvement in the nursery coaching sessions on Saturday mornings. He moved on to mentoring teams and was part of a landmark success in 1984 with fellow mentors Martin Kenny, Tony O’Donohoe and John Cummins when the U14 hurling team won Division 2 of the league beating Setanta in the final. Jim and Lillian’s son, Martin was part of that effort along with Frank Griffin, James Griffin, Paul Moore, Yangtze McDonald, Philip Wardick, Jonathan Kenny, John Neville, Karl O’Meara, Enda Price, Ken O’Reilly, Tony O’Donohoe Jnr., Stephen Murphy, Gary Cullen and future golfer Pádraig Harrington. Two years later with fellow Tipp man Jim Humphreys from Birdhill, they led the U16 hurling team to the club’s first championship semi-final at this level.
He maintained his connections with the club over the years and was a member of the Senior Citizens Network joining forces with his contemporaries in a famous visit to Áras an Uachtaráin in 2009 to meet President Mary McAleese. To his wife Lillian, sons Martin and Séamus, daughter Liz and grandchildren Lily and Emma extended family and friends we extend our deepest condolence.
Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam.