Hurling boss John Kiely visits grave of proud Limerick man in Westmeath
NOT TOO many will remember the scoreline in Limerick’s defeat of Westmeath but it is a day one family will never forget.
Prior to the League match earlier this month, John Kiely agreed to a special request to visit the grave of a proud Limerick man laid to rest in the Lake County.
The county senior hurling manager paid his respects at Anthony McAteer’s final resting place in Rochfortbridge cemetery.
His son Niall McAteer said his dad was from Coolraine Estate, Mayorstone in the city. Mr McAteer Snr left Limerick after training to be a chef in Rockwell Catering College and worked in Tullamore, Cashel and London for many years.
He passed away, aged 63, in 2019.
“He would have seen Limerick win the 2018 All-Ireland. He said to my sister Yvonne, ‘I can die with a smile on my face after witnessing Limerick winning another All-Ireland’. He was always going on about 1973. He was delighted to see Limerick win another All-Ireland before he passed away.
“I remember he was in hospital in England at the time of the semi-final against Cork. He sneaked out to find somewhere to watch it because he couldn’t get it in the hospital at all. When he came back he told the nurses where he had gone and they got a great laugh out of it,” said Mr McAteer Jnr.
Limerick warmed up at Rochfortbridge GAA club before the clash with Westmeath.
“My sister Yvonne knew they were coming and asked somebody in the GAA club would they ask John Kiely would he mind going over to the grave and he said no problem. The graveyard is just opposite the GAA pitch,” said Mr McAteer Jnr, who added that Limerick and the county GAA crest is on his father’s headstone
“You couldn’t put London or Westmeath – it had to be Limerick. John said it was just a pity he didn't have the Liam MacCarthy with him,” said Mr McAteer Jnr.
He says the photo of the Limerick manager at his father’s grave will be treasured. “Fair play to him, he must be some sound man to say no problem at all and go over to visit the grave. We are absolutely made up with it. My father would have been delighted as well. He would have been as happy as Larry. It meant an awful lot to us,” said Mr McAteer Jnr, who wished to thank Mr Kiely for his kindness and let him know how happy he has made the McAteer family.