Recognised as one of the greatest hurlers never to win an All-Ireland medal, Clare’s Jimmy Smyth was laid to rest in his native Ruan on Tuesday.

In a career in which he played 156 adult matches, scored 149 goals and 323 points, his record score of 6-4 in a Munster championship game in 1953 still stands.

The winner of five county senior championships with his beloved Ruan, Jimmy’s inter-county career spanned 23 years. He played minor hurling for Clare at the age of 14.

Jimmy’s performances for his county did not go un-noticed and he was selected for Munster for 12 years, winning eight inter-provincial medals at a time when the Railway Cup was second only to the championship in stature.

He was honoured by the Irish selectors on six occasions while he was selected on both county and provincial teams of the millennium.

While his exploits on the hurling field are numerous, he was also a prominent athlete and won the Munster 100-yards sprint title, as well as being a noted footballer.

Officers of Clare GAA joined with members of the Ruan club in forming a guard of honour as Jimmy Smyth’s remains arrived at Ruan Church on Monday evening.

There was also a guard of honour on Tuesday as the remains were taken to Ruan graveyard for burial. Former Ruan and Clare teammates joined with club members to form this guard of honour.

Newly-elected Munster council chairman Robert Frost and the council’s CEO Simon Moroney were also present.

Croke Park GAA officials, led by director general Padraic Duffy, attended mass at Clontarf on Monday morning before the remains were taken to Clare.

Former county players who attended the funeral included Tony Reddan and Donie Nealon from Tipperary; Dermot Kelly from Limerick and Jimmy Hegarty, Frank Burke and Joe McDonagh from Galway. Well-known former GAA commentator Micheal O’Muircheartaigh attended, as did former senator and Ceann Comhairle, Rory Kiely from Limerick.

The chief celebrant at the funeral mass was Fr Pat O’Neill PP, Ruan. He was assisted by Ruan native. Fr Peter O’Loughlin, Bishop Willie Walsh, Fr Seamus Gardiner, Fr Brian Geoghegan, Fr Tony Cahir, Fr Joe McMahon, President St Flannan’s College, Fr Pat Larkin, Canon Johnnie Hogan, Puckane, a former President of St Flannan’s College, Canon Pat Taaffe and Fr Brendan Lawlor, a classmate of Jimmy’s.

Jimmy’s son Peter replied on behalf of the family.

 

Crowds turn out to pay tribute to ‘a true sportsman’

His many friends in the GAA and in Dublin turned out in big numbers for mass for the late Jimmy Smyth at the church on Clontarf Road, Dublin on Monday morning, prior to his remains being brought back to Clare for burial in his native Ruan. The mass was celebrated by Fr Callinan SJ.

The Clare Association in Dublin was represented by Pat O’Donnell (president), Liam O’Looney (chairman), Tom Hillery (vice-chairman), Pauline Cummins (secretary) and other officers and members.

Mr Smith was a member and a past chairman of the association.

Also in attendance were former Clare hurler Dan McInerney, who played on many Clare teams with Jimmy Smyth;  Inagh native, Sean O’Laoire, who worked with him on the GAA staff at Croke Park and his fellow Ruan man, Pat Henchy, who played with him at both club and county level.

“He was one of the all-time greats, totally loyal to Ruan and very proud of his roots. He was responsible for the successes we had at club level and in all my time, he never once encouraged foul play. He was a very honest fella and a true sportsman,” Henchy told The Clare Champion.

Former classmate remembers Jimmy

Paying tribute to the late Jimmy Smyth this week, his friend Canon Seamus Mullen who attended St Flannan’s College with the Ruan man, recalled that not alone was Smyth a noted hurler, he was also an outstanding athlete and a skillful footballer. They sat the Leaving Certificate exam together in 1949.

“Jimmy played in five consecutive Harty Cup finals, one a double replay against St Colman’s, which St Flannan’s lost but he won three Harty Cups and three All-Irelands in 1945, ’46 and ’47,” recalled Canon Mullen.

“In the ’49 Harty final played in Thurles, Tommy Doyle and the Rattler Byrne were umpires on the day,” he added.

“Watching Jimmy play, Doyle said to the Rattler ‘we could do with him on the Tipp team’. Smyth, at 14 years of age, played at left half-back in the ’49 final.

“Jimmy was also an accomplished footballer,” recalled Canon Mullen “and he was picked at full-forward on the Munster colleges team. He also played football with the Faughs. He was also a noted athlete and was the Munster 100 yards champion.”

“Jimmy was the greatest hurler that ever went through St Flannan’s,” Canon Mullen concluded.