Sadness at passing of former Mayo footballer and publican

There’s great sadness across Mayo GAA circles at the news that Micksey Clarke of Bohola has passed away after a short illness.

The ex-Mayo footballer was the heart and soul of his village and known throughout the county and beyond for his exploits on the football field.

Micksey played at both minor and senior level for the county in the 1950s and 1960s and also played in a Hogan Cup Final for St Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen where they were beaten by St Joseph’s of Fairview, a team captained by would-be Dublin footballer Des Foley.

It was while playing for Mayo that Micksey Clarke had the distinction of being the first inter-county player to ever field a ball when the rules changed that only four people would contest the throw-in. Recognised as a prolific forward and someone who was feared and respected in equal measure by opposition defences, he was one of the most decorated players in Mayo club football. Micksey won five Mayo SFC titles, including four with Castlebar Mitchels (1962, ’63, ’69 and ’70) and one with East Mayo (1967), the same year in which he also landed the Mayo JFC in the colours of Kiltimagh. Mickey also lost a Mayo JFC Final with his native Bohola in 1974 against an Islandeady side that featured future Taoiseach Enda Kenny but in ’78 won the Mayo IFL with Moy Davitts, the club he had helped form only four years earlier. There were also a pair of East Mayo titles won with Ballyvary and Bohola.

Moy Davitts GAA have paid tribute to their founding member, saying that Micksey had a great fondness for the club and saw his love of football pass through the generations with both his sons Pat and Brendan playing, and now his grandchildren.

“Micksey will be greatly missed in his home parish of Bohola, he was a great community man and a central character in the village. There will be many Gaels who will be saddened to hear of his passing,” said the club in a statement.

Clarke’s Pub, which Micksey ran with his late wife Marion, was a popular meeting place for locals and passers-by alike. The shop is now run by son Pat and his wife Annette.

Micksey, who was also predeceased by his brother PJ, will be sadly missed by Pat and Brendan, and his daughters Susan Heneghan (Breaffy) and Caroline (Dublin), brothers Fr Harry (Canada) and Brendan (Tenerife), sister Mary Flanagan (Roscommon), son-in-law Tom, daughters-in-laws Annette and Colleen, his grandchildren, brother-in law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Reposing at the Sheridan Memorial Community Centre in Bohola on Sunday evening from 4pm to 7pm, Micksey’s funeral mass will take place on Monday at 2pm in The Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph, Bohola, with burial afterwards in St Joseph's Cemetery, Bohola.

May he rest in peace.