We extend sympathy to the Gleeson Family Drangan on the death of Jimmy Gleeson RIP. Jimmy was involved in several aspects of life in Drangan and served on the Parish Pastoral Council, School Board of Management, on the Committee of Drangan Community Centre for many years, and as Chairman of Drangan-Cloneen Active Retirement but it was in the GAA that Jimmy made his mark over eight decades.
Jimmy Gleeson’s involvement with St. Patricks began as a player in the early 1950s when he was one of six St. Patricks who helped Fethard to victory over Ardfinnan in the South Tipperary Minor Football Final of 1951, but it was as an administrator that Jimmy gave long years of service to his native club.
Jimmy got an early taste for the administrative side of the GAA through the involvement of his father the late Jim Gleeson RIP who served as Chairman of the St. Patricks GAA Club from 1945 to 1949 and as Chairman of South Tipperary Board from 1958 to 1970. During that time Jimmy’s brother, the late Paddy Gleeson RIP was a regular on the Tipperary Senior football team and had also worn the Blue of the Munster footballers, as well as winning several honours with St. Patricks.
Jimmy became secretary of St. Patricks in 1955 and held that position until 1965 when he became treasurer a position he held until 1975. Business commitments and a young family forced Jimmy out of office at that time but on retiring from his position as postmaster Jimmy returned to hold the purse strings for St. Patricks for a number of years until he handed over the cheque book to his son in law Micheál Broderick who continued as Treasurer for some years. Jimmy served the club as Co. Draw promoter up to a few months ago when Micheál Broderick again succeeded him in that task.
Jimmy’s sons James, Pat and John were all players with St. Patricks and his grandsons Stuart, Jamie and Danny Broderick continued the Family tradition. In 2022 and 2023 Danny won South under 19 hurling championships with St. Patricks and in 2023 both Jamie and Danny won South Junior A football medals with St. Patricks.
Jimmy was predeceased in July 2023 by his son Pat who was a former St. Patricks player and having settled in Slane Co. Meath Pat trained young boys and girls and brought several Tipperary hurlers to Meath to impart their knowledge and skills.
The late Pat was among the last supporters to leave Tipperary matches as he renewed acquaintances with several Tipperary hurlers and supporters.
As Jimmys coffin draped in the Black and Amber of St. Patricks was carried from his home to the Church of the Immaculate Conception his GAA colleagues from the last 70 years formed a guard of honour along with members of Drangan Community Centre and Drangan-Cloneen Active Retirement Association. It is interesting to note that Jimmy was born in the same house where he lived all his life and worked in the family grocery business and as postmaster all in the same house over 90 years.
The death of Jimmy Gleeson certainly marks the end of an era. May he rest in peace.
