Pulbawn, Hollymount
The Dolan family have a long association with Garrymore going back over many years. Bertie got his first taste of gaelic football when he played with the Cloonacashel team long years ago and that was before the formation of the Garrymore club. He then joined Garrymore and the family have been synonymous with the club every since.
His son Danny won six county senior championship medals playing midfield with Garrymore in the 1970s and 1980s while Louis won four senior medals, three on the field of play and the first as a sub. Bernard also played with the club. Only last Sunday week, his grandson David was a member of the Mayo minor team that drew with Kerry in the All Ireland semi-final in Croke Park.
The GAA was an integral part of Bertie’s life and he maintained a huge interest in the sport right up to the end. He was a tremendous supporter of Garrymore and was there at all their games during the glory years. He also followed the ups and downs of Mayo football in all grades.
A man with a strong interest in farming and agriculture, he had one of the first tractors in the region. Bertie saw the need and demand for tractors and machinery and soon had his own business specialising in farm machinery. He went out on hire throughout the farms in the district and his services were much in demand. He started off with the two furrow plough back in the 1950s and expanded into other areas as more machinery came on stream.
Bertie had a great knowledge of machinery and was always willing to invest in new developments so that he could bring the latest in machinery to assist people involved in the farming business in this region of south Mayo which has some of the best farming land in the county. He was a great worker and a man whose knowledge of the scene was respected and who was welcome in every farm he visited over the years. His son Danny continued the plant hire end of the agricultural business for many years too.
His love of the land was permanent and he was a regular at the fairs in the old days and at the marts in Ballinrobe, Claremorris and Tuam in later times. Wherever he went, he was never short of company as Bertie was widely known and respected over such a wide area.
From an early age, Bertie was raised in the traditional Catholic ethos of this part of the country. Two of his brothers were ordained to the priesthood, Fr Michael who served in Australia and Fr Donal who ministered in Nigeria, while his sister Peggy joined the nuns and ministered in Australia.
Declining health saw him confined to a wheelchair for some years, yet he never allowed this to impede on his positive outlook on life. Kathleen (nee Waldron from Cullane, Ballindine) and the family took the best care of him all through the years. He was blessed with a great memory and recall which never deserted him and he had a wealth-bank of knowledge from his home region.
Summing up the feelings of the players who were associated with Garrymore in the golden years of the club, Billy Fitzpatrick said: “I knew Bertie Dolan all my life. He was at practically every football match and seldom if ever missed a Garrymore match for years. We would meet in the pub afterwards for a few pints on the way home from a game. He was a real gentleman, a lovely man, and a great Garrymore supporter.
“Win, lose or draw, Bertie was always there giving encouragement to us all. He enjoyed his football and was very much a part of our success down the years. He was very proud of Danny and Louis winning senior championships with the club. He truly was one of the auld stock and was always there for you, encouraging everyone and lending support in every way he could. The passing of Bertie Dolan marks the end of an era in Garrymore.”
The very large crowd that attended the removal ceremony from Roundfort Funeral Home was truly reflective of the special regard in which Bertie was held by so many people. Many former Garrymore players from the 70’s and 80’s returned from various parts of Ireland to pay their own respects and tributes to a man who was such a part of their lives when they played football with their beloved Garrymore club. They all formed a guard of honour and flanked the coffin from the Community Centre to Roundfort Church.
Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr Michael Molloy, PP, who was a regular visitor to Bertie in recent years, and he was assisted by Fr Donal Dolan and some colleagues from the Kiltegan Fathers. Interment took place in Roundfort cemetery.
Bertie, who was predeceased by his brothers, Pat and Fr Mick, and by his sisters, Delia and Mary Ann, is survived by his wife, Kathleen; daughters, Peggy Harrison (Spain) and Mary McGrath (The Neale); sons, Jimmy (Tuam), Danny, Bernard and Louis (Garrymore); in-laws; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Fr Donal; sister, Sr Rosario (Peggy) in Australia; nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends. - MC.
