The late Michael Foley

The Late Michael Foley

The death of Michael Foley severed a link and removed one of the esteemed wise community elders from our midst in Timoleague. The family have been part and parcel of the cultural, commercial and sporting life of the village since the arrival of Michael’s grandfather from Cork city to Timoleague with the opening of the railway in 1890.

Michael showed promise as a sportsman from an early age. His hurling career was nurtured at Farranferris and he followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle and played with Kilbrittain, Timoleague and Carbery. The untimely death of his father necessitated his return home from Farna to assume managerial duties at the family farm and business. He met a young Eileen O’Regan at the Industrial Hall, Clonakilty. They married in 1966 and as they say, the rest is history.

1967 was a landmark year with the re-emergence of Timoleague as a GAA club. The junior team with Michael as captain, won the league and championship football double. Michael and Eileen made a great team and they welcomed a new arrival that year also. Rural dance halls went into decline and in its place, he established a garage business, aptly named Molaga Motors. The garage was the hub of village activity over many years. It was a focal point where affairs of church and state and local gossip were keenly discussed and hotly debated.

Michael was one of the delegates who went by train to Dublin to secure the land at Lettercollum from the Land Commission that is now the imposing, Our Lady’s Well Community Grounds.He immersed himself as mentor, trainer and selector of a rejuvenated under age structure in 1979. He gathered togethera group of dedicated young lads, his own included, who went on to garner great success both in hurling and football during a golden era of Timoleague GAA. It was to prove the beginning of the modern Argideen Rangers, a club that is now known far beyond the river that bears its name. During all this time, he continued to line out with the club, run a business and attend to more demanding domestic affairs. How he managed to do it all is only known by two. Education and sport vied for the top spot in the home and each was given priority at the required time.

The adult teams benefited greatly from the success of the under -age club, with players winning All-Irelands at colleges, minor and under 21 with Cork. The future was bright. Michael played beside his son Mark in a long sought -after West-Cork junior hurling success in 1985. He was the spiritual leader of that team, scoring three goal, bringing the Foley contribution to 4-5 of Argideen’s 5-7 on the night.

A Munster final win over Tipperary in Thurles leading to All-Ireland success over Galway at Croke Park in a never to be forgotten Summer of 1990, brought an abundance of joy to a parish and justifiable pride to the Foley family due to the exploits of son, Mark.

Michael sought the services of Canon Michael O’Brien to steer the club to further success. This was achieved in 1996 with a county title victory and promotion to intermediate grade. He also had a guiding hand on the junior football success of 1994. He changed his business direction with the demolition of the garage, the former Foley’s Hall. In its place he built a modern shop premises to augment the filling station. Both he and Eileen got the shop established at the beginning. Not content to remain behind the counter, he embarked on a hands-on building project resulting in the construction of a new housing scheme on the hall site. This demonstrated the vast, versatile talent that the man possessed.

His wise council was sought after by many local organisations who benefited greatly from his shrewd advice.He continued to oversee the family business, safe in the knowledge that it was now in the capable hands of the younger generation. He also derived great satisfaction with the progress of Argideen Rangers and the Timoleague Community Association where those at the helm were fortunate to be guided and influenced by his tutelage a generation before.

His illness was fought with the courage and determination that he displayed on the playing fields in his prime but even he had to yield to a greater power. The advent of Covid 19 saw the streets lined with people as he made his last journey through his beloved Timoleague.

Finally, I am reminded of “A Hurler’s Prayer”, the last few lines of which speak for themselves:

“When the final whistle for me is blown, and I stand at last on God’s judgement throne, may the Great Referee when he calls my name, say you hurled like a man, you played the game.”

May the sod of “The Calves Field” rest lightly on you, Michael.

Deepest sympathy was extended to his devoted wife, Eileen, daughter Triona, sons Mark, Sean and Jim, his adored grandchildren, his sisters and brothers and their extended families.