Cork GAA legend Jimmy Lynam made his final journey to the sound of ‘The Banks’

The Glen Rovers, St Nick’s, and Cork great Jimmy Lynam has been remembered as a kind-hearted family man with a great love for the GAA and the memories and pride it provided him with throughout his 100 years of life.

Mr Lynam, an All-Ireland winner with Cork in 1952 and 1953, passed away on Sunday last, surrounded by family and loved ones at Ballynoe Nursing Home.

He enjoyed great success with the Glen in hurling, earning seven Cork SHC medals between 1944 and 1954, and St Nick’s in football, where he was part of the Cork SFC-winning side in 1954.

His love for the GAA stretched beyond his playing days, as an administrator with both clubs.

As noted by his son Kieran at his 100th birthday celebration last year, the GAA provided him with a “purpose and gave him friends for life”.

Jimmy's favourite question

Delivering the eulogy at his father’s funeral Mass at the North Cathedral yesterday, Kieran began by asking “Jimmy’s favourite question”: “Have you any interest in hurling?”

“For many years at appointments, functions, or just going about normal business like shopping in Dunnes, if a stranger was next to Jimmy, that was the opening line.

“Depending on the answer, the unsuspecting companion either got a 10c tour of Jimmy’s life, or if the answer was yes, he or she got the gold tour.

“‘Have you heard of Christy Ring or Jack Lynch?’ was very often the next question, and if you answered yes, well then, you opened Pandora’s box.

“I remember one time in a reception area, as two ladies sitting behind a desk were told by Jimmy that he had the privilege of playing alongside the king for 14 years.

“Stunned, one of them replied: ‘You played with Elvis?’,

“‘No’, says Jimmy, ‘the real king, Christy Ring’.”

Family the most important

While his love of the GAA ran deep, “family was the most important thing to Jimmy” and he “loved telling stories of his childhood”.

“He was proud of his family and the life that he and my mother Mary created, especially my sister Mary and myself.

“He was also so proud and loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, right to the end.”

He concluded: “Jimmy lived a long, happy life full of faith, joy, pride, love, and adventure. He will be remembered for his kind heart, his gentlemanly way, his winning smile, and the twinkle in his baby blue eyes.”

The late Cork legend was fittingly shouldered out with the Glen colours draped over his coffin to the sound of The Banks Of My Own Lovely Lee.