Sad death of a great Ferbane GAA foot soldier

 The early and premature death of one of Ferbane GAA Club's great gaels and foot soldiers, Jimmy Lowry has taken place.

He comes from Ferbane and Offaly GAA royalty with brothers Sean,  Brendan and Mick winning All-Ireland Senior Football Champonship medals for Offaly, giving years of heroic service. The wider Lowry family is one of Offaly's great dynasties and were nationally famous during the 1970s and '80s. Jimmy was not the most famous of them but in his own way, his contribution to the GAA and his own community was equally as profound. He gave immense service to his own club, Ferbane – their father Edward was a native of Tubber and ended up in Ferbane via Manchester.

Edward came home from England to work in the new ESB Power Station in Ferbane and the Lowry family are a perfect example of the role that ESB and Bord na Mona played in Offaly's great run of success from 1960 onwards. The decision of Edward and Margaret Lowry to settle in Ferbane was certainly to the GAA's great gain at club and county level. Their children immersed themselves in the sport with Sean and Brendan winning All-Stars.

Jimmy's big role was in club administration. He was an excellent club chairman for most of the 1990s, an important cog in a smooth running machine as a hard working,  driven official during a decade where Ferbane remained fiercely competitive for the most part, winning SFC titles in 1990, '92 and '94 as well as losing finals in 1993 and '97.

A builder, he also left a powerful, lasting legacy in this decade as vitally important off pitch developments took place during his tenure with their impressive club house constructed and playing facilities extended. An expert tradesman, he was the epitome of GAA volunteerism and much of this work was done by voluntary labour with Jimmy very much putting his shoulder to the wheel.

While the wider Lowry family is synonymous with football, it is ironic to note that Jimmy mainly played hurling himself. He was a secretary of the Ferbane hurling committee for years shortly after they were formed in 1983, had a real passion for the game and he was full back when they won the JHC B title in 1984.

He returned for a second stint as Ferbane GAA chairman in the late 2000s as they bid to pull themselves out of a lengthy decline and he helped sow the seeds for future prosperity in this period as important improvements took place at underage level – the work done in this period helped Ferbane bounce back as a force to be reckoned with in the following decade. 

He served his club in several other roles and was also a widely respected referee, taking charge of both football and hurling games during the 1990s and on.

He was an affable, likeable, popular character and battled health problems with great bravery for several years. He was a great family man with an infectious sense of humour. He was an impressive man and leaves many great memories.

An uncle of golf superstar Shane Lowry, his passing in his mid 60s leaves a huge void in the lives of his family, beloved home town and so many more. 

Predeceased by his parents Edward and Margaret and his brother, Kieran,Jimmy will be sadly missed by his loving family, wife Alice, son Brian and his wife Claire, daughter Jennifer and her husband Mark, son James and his partner Caitriona, his beloved grandchildren Finn, Shay, Emmy, Adam and Dara, his brothers and sisters Sean, Eamon, Mikie, Joe, Brendan, Tommy, Mary, Rose and Eileen, along with their families, neighbours, friends and the wider community.

May Jimmy Rest In Peace

Reposing at his home on Saturday from 4pm until Rosary at 8pm. Removal on Sunday to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ferbane, arriving for Requiem Mass at 1pm, which can be viewed on www.ferbaneparish.ie Interment after Mass in Kilrehan Cemetery.