Ballyroan-Abbey GAA pays tribute to lifelong clubman Ned Peacock
A lifelong servant of Ballyroan-Abbey GAA whose dedication, loyalty and friendship left an enduring legacy
There are names in the GAA that would transcend counties, even the game itself, Ned Peacock is one such name. He was born into a family that was synonymous with Ballyroan football.
Paddy Peacock, his father, resonated far beyond the confines of Ballyroan, as did his brothers. The Cranny family on his mother’s side were part of the fabric of Abbeyleix and Ballypickas hurling for many years. Ned grew up in Ballyroan and won a Minor title with the club and also won an Intermediate title before he graduated to the Senior team.
Ned was an affable character and loved nothing better than to engage in a postmortem on a game that involved Ballyroan Abbey. When it came to Ballyroan, Ned wore his heart on his sleeve. As an administrator in the Club, he served as Chairman and delegate to the County board, a role he carried out with great responsibility.
Ned was very proud to be Chairman of the club when we won our most recent Senior county title in 2006 and a Laois and Leinster Intermediate Club Championship double in 2008.
Even though he lived in Portlaoise, his loyalty to Ballyroan never wavered, his reposal at his home in Millbrook drew large crowds and when the cortege arrived in Ballyroan, it was flanked by a guard of honour of young and old. As his remains were leaving the church, a rendition of ‘Sky’s O’r Ballyroan was sung. Ned was laid to rest in St Patrick’s Cemetery to the lyrics of ‘Old Ballyroan’, Sung by Joe Scully.
‘Ar dheis de go raibh a anam’
Written by Eamonn Mulhall, ‘President’ Ballyroan-Abbey GAA
Ned was predeceased by his parents, Nora and Paddy, and his brother Michael. He is survived by his beloved wife Kathleen, his son Ray, and his daughters Lorraine, Donna and Gillian. He will be sadly missed by his daughter-in-law Christina, his sons-in-law Patrick and David, his cherished grandchildren Ben, Abbey, Emily, Matthew, Ellen, Michael, Charlie and Adam, and his great-grandchildren Darragh and Ella Mae.
He is also mourned by his brothers Noel, Mike, Joe, Jim and Johnny, his sisters Betty, Mary and Frances, his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and his wide circle of friends. The large attendance at his reposal in Millbrook and at his funeral in Ballyroan reflected the esteem in which he was held and the lasting impact he made on his family, his community and the wider GAA family.