It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of one of our own, Colm O’Shea.
Colm, a former player, has been our Fixtures Secretary for many years doing great work behind the scenes for both Lansdowne & Leinster. Colm took a great interest in all things Lansdowne and will be sorely missed by us all. A true gentleman who only very recently was re-elected as Chairman of the Leinster Competitions Committee where he was very highly regarded and well known for his fairness and integrity to all clubs no matter what their status.
Colm was also heavily involved in the Lansdowne Tag team for many years and just last week was presented with a photographic montage which was accepted by his son Mark and daughter Ellen. His tag teammate Paul Clinch wrote a few words about Colm’s time with the Lansdowne Legends which you can read below.
On behalf of the Executive, Trustees & all club members we wish his wife Deirdre and his children Paul, Mark and Ellen, our sincere & heartfelt condolences.
May Colm Rest in Peace #gonebutnotforgotten
You can view funeral details HERE
Colm & The Lansdowne Legends
“In 2002, Pete Purcell asked me if I’d be interested in playing tag in St Marys in a vets’ league. I accepted thinking it would be a bit of fun and arrived up there where we were soundly thrashed by St Mary’s (which wasn’t fun at all!). Brian Corrigan had assembled a motley crew and we had some great fun that season and with a couple of judicious additions to the squad, we managed to win the league.
Over the subsequent 18 seasons, the Lansdowne Legends have played this league every summer and during the winter many have played tag all year round in Blackrock RFC. Of those present that day, only 2 have remained constant presences since – the indefatigable Basil Conroy, and Colm O’Shea.
Colm was a fantastic team-mate to have – a very solid player, always turned up, never injured (a very valuable quality in this group), totally reliable, always gave his very best and was a really solid sensible sounding board whenever there was any issue or difficulty. Friends who have spoken to me say that is was this last quality that made him such a fantastic chair of the competitions committee of the Leinster branch. When choosing a team mate, I would always value effort over individual talent, and Colm was the quintessential 100% guy and someone you could always depend on. Even when he first became ill 3 years ago, he kept in frequent contact and was always hoping to return to play, and would attend our Christmas drinks and end of season get together. Also, I would invariably see him at Lansdowne where his committee work and support of the club was unstinting over many years.
One particular anecdote from his time with Lansdowne Legends sticks out and we frequently revisited this over the years: In 2010, he turned 50 and became an even more valuable member of the Legends squad as he was now worth a 3 point try. In 2012, our great rivals Tag Stars (mostly Mary’s) unveiled their new star signing Dennis Hickie who turned out looking every inch the pro athlete and as the game drew to a conclusion with Mary’s 3 points ahead, Dennis cleared up a kick ahead, rounded the Lansdowne chasers, side stepped another and threw a magnificent 30 metre pass across the pitch to their winger who was completely free, apart from the fact that Colm stuck out a hand, caught it and trundled slowly 25 metres to the line for an equalising score. I was sent today, the apology that Hickie subsequently wrote to his team-mates: “…Admittedly it might have been more enjoyable (for all non Lansdownians) if I hadn’t thrown such a wayward pass that almost certainly cost us the match… but these are mere details. Next week I will endeavour to make sure all such passes end in the hands of OUR over 50s and not theirs”. Poor Hickie only lasted a few weeks at tag, his confidence never recovered from Colm’s intercept!
Colm’s children all inherited his love of sport. Paul, his eldest has a SCT medal and Mark and Ellen play plenty of tag rugby like their father. It was an honour to present a photomontage of the below pictures to them only last week, and in typical fashion, he berated me for not including any pictures of him sidestepping me! (I destroyed those!!) We’ll all miss him terribly. RIP Colm – a great team mate and friend!” – Clincher
A great former team mate, a gentleman and a Lansdowne man to the core. Very sad to hear of Colms passing tbough our paths haven’t crossed for a long time. Rest in peace. Bill Cooper
I had the pleasure of playing with Colm regularly when before I left for Canada. True gent and a great lad to hang out with. God Bless
Colm was a real gentleman, a nice guy and always a pleasure to meet. A Lansdowne man to his core. RIP
Mark Ryan
Great message Clincher you have captured him brilliantly. Super montage that the family can enjoy. RIP Colm
One of natures Gentlemen and a great Lansdowne man all his life. it was a pleasure to play Tag with him over a 15 year period. May he rest in peace.
I had the pleasure of playing with Colm regularly when before I left for Canada. True gent and a great lad to hang out with. God Bless
How very Sad that Colm should be taken at such a young age , from his family and his many friends in Lansdowne.
He was such a fine person and a true gentleman.
May he Rest in Peace.
Rest In Peace Colm it was great to have the privilege of knowing and working with you.
Colm was a wonderful man.
Always a pleasure to meet and he always had that warm fully engaging smile.
We all are much the poorer for his passing and it’s very difficult to come up up with the right words at this incredibly sad time.
I can only extend my my deepest sympathies to his wife and children and and lament their enormous loss.
Colm was a great friend over my 20+ years in Lansdowne.
God bless you Colm.
Kevin McDermott
Killer B’s
Colm was truly a wonderful guy and will be greatly missed. I remember his very welcoming presence, he had time for everyone, a great back row soldier and clearly one of our Tag Legends – in every way. Very very sad but so heartening to read Clincher’s tribute. My sincere condolences to his family, wife Deirdre and children Paul, Mark and Ellen. May the wonderful man Rest in Peace.
Mano Ryan
Honestly shocked to learn of Colm’s passing .A gentleman and a great character.
We all will miss him .My sympathy to Colm’s family .May he Rest In Peace
John Conmee
It was a real pleasure knowing Colm O’Shea. Meet him first in Lansdowne, then followed up by 10plus years playing with him on the Legends. A great team mate , one you could always count on. God help anybody getting in the way of him , head down heading for the try line. Almost Impossible to tag ! Great company at all times be that on or off the pitch. Definitely one of the good guys who did not deserve to leave us so soon. RIP Colm
Well done, Clincher, and a great tribute to a sterling Lansdowne Man!
We are all truly lessened by Colm’s passing at such an early age. I joined Lansdowne in 1978 and Colm was captain of the Under 19’s that season – a robust blind side wing forward, brave in the tackle and endowed with a good footballing brain.
Off the pitch, he was good company and always put the interests of his family and friends before his own. We played several seasons together in or around the 3rds and A’s and I always considered it a privilege to be considered amongst his friends.
It took two attempts to get Colm onto the Leinster Branch Junior Committee, but what a committed worker they got! That was in 2004, I recall, and Colm gave both Leinster Rugby and Lansdowne many years of unstinting service that were delivered in his characteristically understated but highly efficient style.
Colm always made sure to make the annual Lansdowne Dinner, and was usually the first to confirm he would be there as he loved the occasion and the chance to renew the important friendships which only rugby can produce. He was also a great supporter of the Lansdowne junior touring side, the Caligulites, and featured on several tours to exotic destinations such as Renville in Connemara and Donegal. Colm occasionally brought his late Dad, Milo, down to the club for a pint and they were engaging company and difficult to leave on an always entertaining night!
Deepest sympathies to Deirdre, Paul ,Mark and Ellen on their sad loss. May Colm rest in peace. Godbless.
Mick Daly
One of the good guys. A pleasure to have known, played with and worked with. Great loss to all but especially of course to his family.
Firstly, I have to say he and I never became a close as many of the writers before me have mentioned. Suffice it to say, I was very saddened to hear of his passing because my best memories of Colm was that he was a truly great guy and his passion for, and love all that is rugby, transcended all else. I met hime when I was on the way down (I’m talking 3rd’s s to 3rd C’s – does that still even exist !) and he always protected my ass from the ‘Nure, Mary’s or Clontarf animals.
Thanks Colm, I truly hope / believe you are in a better place tonight.
Sincerely, GoGo (Boston)
Very saddened to hear of Colm’s passing, he was one of the good guys, always a pleasure to meet up with and an addition to any team he was on.
Rest in peace Colm
Eugene
I joined LFC around the same time as Colm and played at many (lower) levels and on a Caligulites trip with him. Always a good wing-man it must be said. I remember him driving me around in his suped-up black Volkswagon beetle and having a cup-of-tea with his Mum in their home. I suppose my biggest input into his life was when I introduced him to Deirdre at a ‘disco’ in Lansdowne FC. Anyway – back to the rugby. Once you saw Colm’s name on the team sheet – you knew we were in with a good chance of winning the game. My last time meeting with him was after an International last season when I insisted on buying him one for the road before we got the DART home (I think). Enjoy the rest Colm. RIP
I didn’t realise it at the time, but what an honour and such good fortune to have played the game with him in the twilight of both our careers (1985-88). RIP Colm.
Daniel Doyle.
So sad to hear of Colm’s death.He was the definition of a gentleman. He worked as junior fixture secretary for years without complaint or fuss.He will be a huge loss to the Club and to all his many friends but more importantly to his family to whom I would like to express my deepest sympathy at your loss.Colm was a very very special person. May he rest in peace
My deepest sympathies to Colm’s family. It was always great seeing Colm in Lansdowne, he was a special man, and with great sadness, he will be missed. May you rest in peace Colm.
Joseph Moran
Always a pleasure to deal with Colm on Lansdowne business. Deepest sympathy to Deirdre and family – may he rest in peace
I met Colm for the first time when playing on the 3rd Ds, after getting promoted from Noel Gaskins 3rd Es in 1983/4. Back then, these were very competitive teams and there was only a postage stamp area to practice on, under the dimly lit, back pitch lights. Colm made sure all newcomers to the team felt valued and needed but never gave a compliment unless it was deserved. There was no false praise from Colm – you had to earn it. He never forgot those roots as we went on to different teams and we often joked about his brown alfasud that would pull up in to the ‘Guinness’ car park with Deirdre in the passenger seat, as the youthful loyal girlfriend, who never complained about the boring matches. “It’l never show the rust” used to make him laugh! Thank you for always making me feel part of those teams Colm, it was an important part of my Lansdowne experience. Rest in peace.
You were never afraid of running with the ball and were always bloody hard to stop – Way too early for this Ref – We’ve been robbed!
Deepest sympathy to Deidre and family. You were a rock solid man in every aspect of life Colm and I am honored to have played with and known you. Rest in peace ‘mainframe’ man…
This is desperately sad news. I had the pleasure of playing in the back row with Colm up and down the junior sides in Lansdowne in the ‘80s, well mostly the lower end! Lansdowne was hugely competitive in those days. We played on the Super Cs Team that won the O’Connor Cup, halcyon days! When Colm was in the team you always felt confident that no matter whom the opposition was, we had nothing to fear. As a back row partner, you knew he would always be there to take or give a pass, or breaking through the line of defence, or leading the charge into a ruck or maul – fearless. Off the field he was just great company. Deirdre was always there supporting him, a lovely couple. My only regret was that apart from a couple of Super C’s Reunions over the intervening years, our paths did not cross, I went to the US and UK to work.
Rest In Peace Colm
One of the best rugby men around. His service to Leinster Rugby was far more than just on the Competitions Committee and he always brought the rugby values of integrity and enjoyment to all his decisions. Gone too young and a great loss the his family, Club and all of Leinster Rugby RIP.
As I write this note, he is looking down at me from the Newbridge JCT team photograph on the wall behind me. Played with him all the way through school and I regret that I never joined forces with him during my short sojourn at Lansdowne (78-80). Well-remembered as a great teammate, a wonderful ‘minder’ and a genuinely nice guy. A tragic loss to his family and by all accounts a huge one to Lansdowne and Leinster Rugby. Well done on your tribute, Paul. May he RIP. John Fenton