*Noel Normoyle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
NOEL NORMOYLE’s sudden and untimely death on Monday evening has come as a huge shock not just to his family but to all in the gaelic football world in Clare and further afield.
He gave loyal and distinguished service to his beloved Kilmihil and Clare. He is a former employee of the telecommunications company Telecom Éireann and resided in Springfield, Ennis for over forty years.
A native of Cahermurphy in Kilmihil he helped Kilmihil to Clare minor championship honours in 1977. A year earlier he made his senior club debut when being introduced in the county final when they lost by two points to Kilrush Shamrocks.
He went on to help his beloved club to under 21 honours in 1980 and 1981
The 1980 season will always hold a special place in Kilmihil GAA history as the club, after a number of heart-breaking losses in the previous decade, claimed the county senior championship title, Noel being a key member of the side scoring two points while lining out at full-forward but operating in a roaming role.
He won favour with the Munster selectors and he was part of the Munster Railway cup winning side in 1982.
When Kilmihil claimed the Cusack Cup (senior league) title in 1990, Noel was at midfield on the team.
He was a member of the Clare senior panel for well over a decade and he was part of the Munster senior championship winning Clare squad in 1992.
A member of a well-known Kilmihil family, his brothers all represented the club while his late father won championship honours when Kilmihil assisted Cooraclare in 1944.
When his playing days were over he served as a mentor with Kilmihil. He was also involved with Éire Óg teams as a selector including the side which claimed the Clare SFC in 2000 and the Minor A championship in 2012. He also was involved with the Clare minor footballers as a selector to Corofin’s Michael Neylon.
A staunch supporter of Clare football, he played in the annual golf classic raising funds for the development of football in Clare and was regularly attended the county’s various matches across the country.
He was a prominent golfer and represented Ennis golf club in many competitions over the years
Noel is survived by his wife Vinnie, children Michelle, Ciara and Jack, Michelle’s husband Brian, Jack’s partner Megan, grandchildren Annie, Róisín and Ógie, brothers Tommy, Frank, Brendan, Michael, Bernie and Kieran, sisters Mary and Anna, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends
Reposing at Kennedy’s Funeral home in Ennis on this Thursday, August 21 from 5pm to 7pm. with funeral Mass on this Friday, August 22 at Ennis Cathedral at 11am followed by burial at Drumcliffe cemetery.
