DINEEN (Mill Road, Millstreet, Co. Cork) Nov. 19, 2009, (peacefully), at home, Cormac (M.R.C.V.S.), beloved husband of Celia and dear father of Deirdre, Tadhg, Maura, Sandra and Charles, brother of the late Máire (O’Leary); deeply regretted by his loving wife and family, brothers Joe and Paudie, sisters Eibhlís and Áine, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, grand-nieces, relatives and friends. Reposing at Tarrant’s Funeral Home, Millstreet. Removal this (Friday) evening at 8 o’c. to St. Patrick’s Church, Millstreet. Requiem Mass tomorrow (Saturday) at 12 o’c. Funeral afterwards to St. Mary’s Cemetery, Millstreet. No flowers by request. Donations, if desired, to Millstreet Church Restoration Fund.
1948 County Football Champions
Cormac was one of the Millstreet team that won the County Senior Football title in 1948
Regret in passing of Cormac Dineen
CORK and Millstreet has lost one of its football legends on the death yesterday of Cormac
Dineen. One of the most identiable Cork footballers of his generation, he provided a rocklike presence in the last line of defence. Whether it was with club in the county championship or lining out with Cork, the Millstreet man always gave o his very best and no easy
scores were recorded against him.
Cormac Dineen came to light on playing a key role on helping Millstreet to capture its lone
County SFC title in 1948 on defeating St Vincents. Consistent form secured the veterinary
student selection on the Cork team that captured the 1949 Munster SFC.
His calm and assured play gathered a regular berth with Cork. A highlight surfaced in 1952,
part and parcel of a Cork team that won its rst National Football League title. Fellow clubmen Denis Toots and Teddy Kelleher also gured with Cork. And on the opposing New York
team in the decider was former Millstreet club colleague from 1948, Den Connors who had
won an All Ireland SFC medal with Cork in 1945.
Cormac Dineen collected another Munster SFC medal later in 1952 but an injury in the early
minutes to the All Ireland semi nal against Cavan robbed Cork of one of its pillars of
strength.
In a professional career, Cormac Dineen won respect far and wide as a vet and also maintained a lifelong link with Millstreet Town Park where he held the position of treasurer
from 1977 up to his death.
Sympathy is extended to his wife and family. Ar dheis De go raibh an aimn dilis
The above is an extract on Cormac’s exploits on the field, and is taken from an article in this weeks Corkman newspaper.
Some stories remain as a memory of joy
Like the one that i often heard as a young boy
Of a Gaelic Footballer who played for Cork in red and Millstreet in green
The legendary borderer Cormac Dineen
A story often recalled when local old yarners did meet
Of the man who was born on the Cork Kerry border between Rathmore and Millstreet
The Kerry County G A A Board wanted young Cormac with them for to play
But their rivals in Cork did not see it this way
Cormac’s birth home was on the Cork Kerry border this is how the dispute arose
Between Munster’s Gaelic Football’s most historical foes
Till a drawn up map of the border put the issue beyond doubt
That Cormac was a Cork man by a hundred meters or thereabout
In Gaelic Football a huge boost to Cork it did seem
But had Cormac been playing with Kerry he would have known of a far greater esteem
For in the nineteen fifties when Cormac was in his physical prime
For Kerry in Gaelic Football it was a glorious time
In Gaelic Football for Cork and his club of Millstreet great games he did play
But only the memories are with us today
Of the fearless defender who often broke up many an opposition attack
As often was said of him a hard nut for to crack
Eventually time becomes everyone’s foe
And Cormac Dineen died some six years ago
Born on the Cork Kerry border Kerry wanted him with them to play
But their football rivals in Cork on it did have their way.
“A Story Of Cormac Dineen” is by Francis Duggan
http://francisrhymer.blogspot.ie/2015/11/a-story-of-cormac-dineen.html
(mdc)