Jim ‘Jimbob’ O’Donovan - A Tribute by Liam Barry ...

On Monday October 8th 2018, our friend, Jimbob passed away. Jim was a best friend to everyone who met and knew him. He has left an empty place in our hearts,  hearts  he used fill with such joy every time we met him. That Monday was a very sad day in our lives as the news broke of Jim’s passing.

Jimbob got a great send off at his funeral on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th October. He was a staunch Bride Rovers and Cork GAA supporter and this was reflected in the hundreds of local GAA players wearing Bride Rovers & Cork jersies that formed a guard of honour on the street of Rathcormac  on Friday night as Jim was brought to Rathcormac Church. Players and  and Officers from the Adult, Camogie, Ladies Football and Juvenile club were there to pay their respects to our No. 1 supporter.

At the funeral Mass on Saturday, Fr. Nelius O’Donnell presided over a beautiful ceremony and at the end Jim, with his coffin draped in the Bride Rovers and Cork colours,  was taken to his final resting place in Kilcrumper.

Jim was a special friend to so many, small in stature but with a big heart. He had an amazing effect on people. His presence  would leave you in a good mood after meeting with him. He always had time to have a chat with you and it did not matter whether you were young  or old.

As a plumber Jim took great pride in his work and no job was too small or too big. Some of his bigger projects included the Church in Bartlemy, the Friary in Killarney and the refurbishment of Adare Manor Golf Resort. Jim was available 24/7 for any plumbing emergencies;  boilers not working, burst pipes or leaking taps. His phone was always on and he would come to the rescue any day of the week and with a smile on his face as if to say ‘don’t worry I have it under control’ !

Away from work Jimbob loved the simple things in life. He loved his family, the GAA and music.Jim was married to the wonderful Deirdre Riordan from Ballylanders and one of his proudest days was on 17th September 2012 when their twins Jack and Jessica arrived, they brought great joy to all. Jim’s  mother and father, John and Maura were equally thrilled to welcome the new-borns to Kildinan.Jim has always had a love of music of all genre’s. He enjoyed listening to Elvis, Bruce Springsteen, Status Quo and Shakin Stevens but was also an avid country music fan and especially liked the music of Caitlin Murtagh whom he met on several occasions having attended concerts with all the family.

The GAA was where Jimbob was best known and loved, he was a great supporter of all Bride Rovers teams from juvenile to senior, ladies football and camogie. It was especially with the Ladies Football and Camogie teams he will be affectionately remembered. He would attend club matches from Bantry to Fermoy and Mourneabbey to Rathcormac. With players from the club selected on several Cork teams in recent years, Jimbob would be sure to be in attendance supporting the Rebelettes whether it was in Longford, Nenagh, Mallow or Croke Park.For Ladies Football and Camogie matches he was regularly available to act as umpire where he would offer support and advice to Bride Rovers players while all the time recording the stats and watching the time. With a water bottle in hand he would make those dashes to quench the thirst of the players.Jimbob was our ‘Memory Man,’ as he had a great recollection of games gone by and could recount a great score, an individual performance or a great team victory.

Often Jim would have a treat for the players at the end of a tough game, the van full with minerals, crisps and chocolate which would be dispensed amongst the players to their delight.

One of his proudest days supporting Cork came when he saw his neighbours, Brian and  Eoin Roche climb the steps of the Hogan Stand in Croke Park to the lift the first ever U17 All-Ireland Hurling Championship Trophy in 2017.  Another was on September 9th last when his close friend and neighbour, Jennifer Barry was on the Cork Intermediate Camogie team that defeated Down to win the All-Ireland.

Jimbob took great pleasure in all Bride Rovers successes and was part of the backroom team when the Rovers won their first Ladies Football Senior county in 2015. Jimbob was great to send positive messages on the players via the  ‘Whats App’ groups which often inspired them to victory. This year saw his own children, Jack and Jessica begin training with the Under 6 Boys and Girls teams.

Off the field Jimbob supported all the club’s fundraiser’s and was also involved in the Sinead Kearney Lyme Disease 6k Walk when he completed the course in crutches, such was his determination to do the fundraiser. At the Rathcormac 4 Mile Road Races in recent years, Jimbob drove the lead safety vehicle on the course while also ferrying around race commentator Dick O Brien in the back of the van !!

Deirdre mentioned in her eulogy at the funeral how Jim’s love of the GAA often landed him in hot water at school. On one particular day during History class, Jim was jotting down the Cork football team for an upcoming Munster championship match when the teacher caught him red-handed. On examination of his copybook the teacher remarked “What has Larry Tompkins got to do with history ?” to which Jim replied “If Larry Tompkins doesn’t play well on Sunday Cork will be history”.

Jim’s other hidden talent was his ability to write poetry.  He loved to write a couple of verses to mark a special occasion be it a family event or a big match. Below is a poem Jim wrote to Jennifer Barry ahead of her recent  All-Ireland Camogie final in Croke Park.

I’m a husband of one

A father of two

A plumber to a few

A supporter to many

Especially the Barry girls who are a mighty crew

With teaching and college you do it so well

When you play football I’m under your spell

You’re from Kildinan near the banks of the Bride

And you fill Mick Barry’s heart with pride

Your supporter and  umpire may be small

 But when he sees you play he becomes ten feet tall 

When you score points he claps his hands 

When you score goals he does handstands

May, Maria, Emma and Jennifer,

I thought a short poem would only suffice 

To say thank you so much for being so nice.

Jimbob, you have had an amazing effect on everyone who knew you, you have brought great happiness to many and your memory will live on forever. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.