Of Toots Kelleher only the memories remain
But in fancy i often does seem him again
In full flight for Millstreet in the green and gold
Though it is true about great men they too do grow old
Never found to be wanting when put to the test
For Cork, Munster and Millstreet he always gave of his best
In Cork, Coachford, Macroom, Killarney and in famed Croke Park
The Pride of Duhallow often left his mark
One of Ireland’s best forwards in his day playing gaelic football
His many great displays too many to recall
A sportsman supreme and a marvellous player
He did play it hard but he always played fair
With Toots there was never an excuse in defeat
He would say by the better team today we were beat
His opponents of him had only kind things to say
And for him there was many a loud hip hooray
Tall dark haired, strong and handsome in his glorious prime
Though that is going back many decades in time
But even great players do grow old and gray
May he rest in peace now wherever he lay
Since Toots Kelleher played gaelic football many Seasons have gone
But with those who watched him play the good memories live on
Of one never found to be wanting when put to the test
In the gaelic playing fields of Ireland he always gave of his best.
—-
Click to see Toot’s All Ireland Final Goals from 1956:
Hi Francis,
Toots can be seen on Youtube.
Cork V Galway 1956 All Ireland Senior Football Final.
He scores two goals but unfortunately Galway won.The footage only lasts a few minutes but it’s worth a look.
Thanks a million,Ted,for kindly alerting us to the two YouTube film clips which have such historic Millstreet relevance. As Tim O’Shea indicated to us – it was so uplifting to hear the wonderful sound of Millstreet Pipe Band sounding so very clear in the 1960s Christy Ring film. Many thanks to Michael Cashman (of our website team) for accessing the relevant links.
Thanks Ted
For telling us of the link to Toots Kelleher’s goals on Youtube and as Sean Radley pointed out in thanking you and Michael Cashman for the above link to Millstreet pipe band in the National Hurling League Final in Cork in 1960 Cork v Tipperary all of fifty years ago with an image of the young Donal Lynch drumming such things bring happiness to so many people as Sean said it made long time band member Tim O’Shea’s day which is so good to hear, thanks again for informing the Millstreet web site masters of stuff you come across on Millstreet on Youtube in far away Wales.
The video of the 1956 All Ireland Football Final can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBgNI7oF4xY
Toots (#10) can be seen scoring his two goals near the end of the video.
i suspect it is from a recent publication by the GAA of footage from old finals called “GAA Football Gold”
http://www.ifi.ie/2011/11/gaa-football-gold-dvd-launched/
I’m 1 of Toots 4 sons and delighted to see this piece on the web site. Thanks for putting it up and also to francis duggan for the fantastic way he desctribes our father in his own words. Thanks again and he’d be so proud.