Greenmount Rangers mourns the loss of two club legends

The Greenmount Rangers community was left reeling last week as news emerged of the passing of two cherished club men, Barry 'Mizzer' O’Leary and Pat 'Dixie' Cahill. 

To lose one great character is hard enough; to lose two in such a short space of time has cast a long shadow. They embodied the very best of what local football is meant to be: camaraderie, loyalty, mischief, and heart. Their absence will be felt for many years to come.

Everyone connected with Greenmount was saddened when word of Pat Cahill's passing began to filter through. To many, he was simply Dixie, a nickname earned after scoring over 50 goals in a single season and drawing comparisons to the legendary Everton striker Dixie Dean. 

LOYAL

He was loved not only for what he did on the pitch, but for who he was as a person.

His contribution to the club extended far beyond his role as a player. Joining in 1974, he served at various times as chairman, vice-chair, and in many other capacities. His brothers Noel, Thos and Ger were also heavily involved, making the Cahill name synonymous with service, loyalty, and commitment.

As a player, Pat was a striker of real quality, lining out alongside teammates such as Harry Speight, Ger McGreevey, Pa Mul, the Carter brothers, and Timmy Hewitt. But it was off the field that his character shone brightest. 

He was a gentleman in every sense of the word, kind-hearted, unassuming, and endlessly patient. 

Those end-of-season bus trips were legendary, and Dixie was often the man trying to maintain some semblance of order. During the 1997 Munster Junior Cup run, when every round was drawn away from home, the team found themselves on seven bus journeys, seven opportunities for chaos, and Dixie somehow kept everyone pointed in the right direction.

He was modest to a fault. For example, few knew that he captained Nemo Rangers to an U16 hurling county title. An unusual achievement considering the club’s strong footballing tradition. But that was Dixie: never one to boast, always one to contribute.

IRREPLACEABLE

Then came the shock news of the passing of Barry O'Leary. 

Though he had faced his recent illness like Dixie, with remarkable bravery and quiet stoicism, the news still struck with a force that left people stunned. Mizzer had long been woven into the fabric of Greenmount Rangers, not simply as a player or volunteer, but as a presence, one of those irreplaceable characters who make a club what it is.

Mizzer possessed that natural, easy wit that made him the heartbeat of any gathering. The slagging was merciless at times, and absolutely no one escaped it. 

Behind every joke was the warmth and generosity that defined him. For all his sharp humour, he had a heart of gold.

On the pitch, Mizzer enjoyed a long and decorated career. Before settling in Greenmount in the early 1990s, he lined out for Tramore, Crofton, Casement, and Ballyphehane Celtic. A striker by trade, he was a classic poacher, the sort of forward who seemed to appear from nowhere at exactly the right moment. 

His medal haul tells the story of a man who not only loved the game, but excelled in it.

His partnership with Micky O’Leary is still spoken about fondly. Two close friends off the pitch they had an almost telepathic understanding on it. 

And of course, there was his lifelong buddy Garry Mac, of Garry McCarthy Trophies fame. The two played together in their early years, notably starring for Crofton U17s. Along with Matthew O’Donovan (RIP), Plunket Carter, and Pa Mul, they became affectionately known within the club as the 'White Knights', great characters to a man, and part of the very soul of Greenmount.

When Mizzer hung up his boots, he never drifted away. His presence alone made match days brighter and committee nights shorter. Losing him is losing a piece of the club’s identity.

Club chairman and friend of both lads, Conor Fitzgerald, spoke of the huge void their passing will bring to so many people.

“To lose Mizzer and Dixie within days of each other is more than a coincidence, it is a profound blow,” said Fitzgerald. "But in mourning them, the club also celebrates them. Their humour, their loyalty, their decency, and their love for Greenmount Rangers will remain part of the club’s story forever.

“Two great men, two great friends, two great characters. Their legacy is not just in medals won or roles held, but in the countless memories they leave behind."

Greenmount Rangers is richer for having had them and far poorer without them.