The funeral of Tyrone GAA legend Jody Gormley has been told he was a “leader, natural teacher and a role model”.
The Trillick man passed away at home on Monday. He had been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer earlier this year.
His remains are being transferred to St MacCartan’s graveyard in Trillick via Omagh and Dromore.
The funeral mass was held at the Good Shepherd Church on Belfast’s Ormeau Road on Thursday morning. A Trillick Jersey was placed on his coffin.
GAA President Jarlath Burns at Jody Gormley’s funeral. Pic: Presseye
The mass was attended by a range of well-known figures from the GAA, including the association’s President Jarlath Burns, and Mr Gormley’s former Tyrone teammate Peter Canavan.
Many of those gathered wore GAA jerseys as a mark of respect for Mr Gormley, who was the only Tyrone player other than Canavan to score in the 1995 All-Ireland Final.
Mr Gormley had continued to manage his home club Trillick until the final few months of his life, only losing narrowly in the Tyrone championship to eventual Ulster winners Errigal Ciarán.
Peter Canavan pictured with members of the Tyrone County team. Pic: Presseye
Speaking at his funeral, Father Brendan Hickland recalled Mr Gormley’s ability to help others: “The legendary nudges, the words of encouragement, thoughtful, small and large acts of kindness, an arm around the shoulder of someone to let them know he was there for them.”
“His deep, deep sense of respect for other people, something he learned from Eugene, his father, meant that Jody always looked out for the good in other people.
“He was an encourager, not a criticizer, and in looking for the good in other people, he did what he could possibly do frequently, draw out those gifts and talents that he saw again beneath the surface of people’s lives.
“He did it as a constant supportive presence for family, friends, colleagues, anyone who passed his path of life, often too, with that unique sense of humour, sometimes dark, sometimes maybe with a sting in its tail.
“We, I’m sure, have met people in life who can drain us by their negativity, pull us down a little bit by that attitude.
“Jody was a radiator. Jody radiated vigour for life, energy, enthusiasm, love, selfless, self, giving, or was trying to do what was right in an honest and open way, working for the best interests of others, a team player, through and through.”
Jody Gormley
His friend, the journalist Paddy Heaney, delivered a eulogy that paid tribute to Mr Gormley’s love of his family and his home.
“When Jody spoke about Trillick, it is not an exaggeration to say he lit up. Speaking of Trillick he said, that’s where you learn your football, that’s where your roots are, your soul is there, your family is there.
“When Jody talked about Trillick, he repeatedly used one word. He talked about purity, the purity of spirit he found back amongst his own people energised and lifted him.
“Of course that purity of spirit, which Jody also possessed, and which he found and recognised in Tirllick was all too familiar to him.
“He was raised by good, pure people, his mother, Sheila, and his late father, Eugene. He grew up with the security and warmth and open warfare of his brothers, Damien and Eoin,and his sister, Anita.
“Purity of spirit was unquestionably the key trait he identified in the woman he loved and married his wife, Deirdre.
“When speaking of his life and how lucky he was, Jody was talking about the good fortune he had to meet and marry Deirdre and then to have the blessing of their three children, Áine, James and Niamh.
Read more
“On the last morning, I went down to meet Jody. I was nervous. I had never had the experience of meeting a friend who was facing his own death. I wasn’t sure what to say.
“I called in with my father, and I wanted a steer from him, I said, What do you do? What do you say?
“My father didn’t answer the question immediately. After a while, he said to me, men tend to die the way they live. You’ll be okay with Jody.
“Men die the way they live. In the case of Jody Gormley, truer words have never been spoken.
“How did Jody Gormley live? He loved his family. He was a loyal friend. He served his club and county with distinction and honour. He was a teacher, a coach and a manager.
“Yet the biggest lesson he gave us was his life. He showed us how to live. He even showed us how to die. Until his last breath, he preached by example.
“Physically, Jody has gone, but his pure Spirit and warrior soul will always be with us.”
Mr Gormley is survived by his wife Deirdre, his children Áine, James and Niamh, his Mother Sheila and his siblings Damien, Anita and Eoin.