It was with great sadness that KCLR learned of the death of Piltown’s Ned Walsh over the weekend. He was in his 95th year.
Ned was involved with the Iverk Show for a remarkable 73 years, and to many became known as “the man at the gate”. He was also known as ‘the Coalman’ locally given the family fuel business he operated for many years. As had been the case since the early 1950s, Ned assisted those parking on the grounds of his beloved Piltown GAA Club during last Saturday’s Iverk Show. To the end, Ned contributed.
Survived by wife Stella, children Anne-Marie and Owen along with his sisters and grandchildren, Ned, as the Iverk Show’s Facebook tribute put it, “was always willing to lend a hand, from collecting equipment and getting all our signs ready for the Show, to being the familiar face welcoming people through the gate. If Ned took on a job, you knew it was in safe hands”.
Paying tribute to its past Chairperson and President, Piltown GAA Club described Ned as “one of Piltown and Kilkenny GAA’s greatest followers and supporters. He dedicated so much of his life to our club, our community, and the Iverk Show.”
On today’s KCLR Daily, fellow Iverk Show stalwarts John Flynn and Norman Storey paid tribute to their friend and colleague. Our tribute also featured an interview with Ned himself whom we chatted with over a cup of tea following a Civic Reception which marked 200 years of the Iverk Show at Kilkenny County Hall on May 18th last.
Ned Walsh’s Requiem Mass will take place at Piltown’s Church of the Assumption on Thursday at 10:30am, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.
May he Rest In Peace.
