Enda Carolan RIP

A hurling legend died over the past number of days....

Enda Carolan’s influence in hurling in Kilmacud Crokes cannot be overstated.

Enda Carolan hailed from Clonmellon in Co Westmeath, where he was involved in Brownstown Hurling Club and had a huge impact on the players there.

He moved to Dublin in the early ‘70s to take up a post as Geography Teacher in Oatlands College.

In addition to being a superb teacher, Enda Carolan became the focus and force behind hurling within the school.

He was a patient and visionary coach, whose absolute love and devotion to the great game shone through for all to see.

It was he who drove the Oatlands College Senior Team to the All-Ireland final in 1985, picking up the Dublin and Leinster A titles along the way.

Some great Kilmacud Crokes names were on those teams: Hynes, Donohoe, McCormack, Donovan, O’Shea.

Throughout the ‘80s, ‘90s and early 2000s Enda passed a love of the game to a generation of hurlers, the majority of which went on to play with Kilmacud Crokes.

Were it not for the influence of Enda Carolan, hurling may not have survived in Oatlands College and that would have been a grave loss to the success of the game in Kilmacud Crokes.

In addition to his work within the school, Enda made a huge contribution within the club.

Having worked in the background with the club teams in the late ‘80s, Enda got involved with the under 15 hurlers, along with Mick Walsh, Peter Farrell and Sean Creaney in 1991.  He brought this team to the County final at under 16 level in 1992 and went on to work with them through their minor years.

Enda also worked with the adult teams, in particular the Junior Championship winning team of 1991.  Enda Carolan went on to work with Mick Dempsey and John Lonergan with the Senior teams that contested the County final in 1996 and County semi-final in 1998.

A simple summary or synopsis of Enda’s involvement in teams would not be sufficient to set out the legacy that Enda leaves behind him.  Without Enda Carolan, hurling would be unrecognisable in this club.

He was a giant and a legend and will be sorely missed.

 

Enda Carolan’s funeral is scheduled for Friday, 18 December 2015 at 10 o’clock in the church of the Holy Name in Beechwood Avenue in Ranelagh.

 

See full funeral details by clicking HERE