Gaels throughout the county were deeply saddened on Wednesday evening to learn of the death of Jim Curtis, Honorary President of Meath GAA. Jim had only celebrated his 90th birthday five days previously on Friday April 11.
Elected as an Honorary President of Coiste na Mí C.L.G. at the 2020 Annual Convention, Jim had also been honoured two years previously when he was the Guest of Honour at the 2018 Senior Football Championship Final between St. Peter’s Dunboyne and Summerhill at which he performed the ceremonial throw in.
It is often said that our enthusiasm and love of Gaelic Games is inherited, and this was definitely true in Jim’s case. His father Jimmy won five SFC titles with Rathkenny in 1917, ’18, ’19, ’22 and ’23. He also was on the team that won the first ever Feis Cup in 1920 and captained Rathkenny to the JFC in 1916 as well as being a key figure on the Meath team.
4-07-21. Meath v Longford – Leinster SFC Quarter-Final at Pairc Tailteann, Navan. Jim Curtis (Left) enjoying the match with Mary and Paddy Kavanagh. Photo: John Quirke / http://www.quirke.ie ©John Quirke Photography
Jim followed in his father’s footsteps and started his footballing days with Syddan, winning Championship honours in 1946. He went on the play at Minor with Dee Rangers and subsequently caught the eye of the Meath selectors. He was on the county Minor side in 1952 and 1953, but they lost out to Dublin in both years.
By this stage he had graduated to adult football, but these were lean years in Rathkenny, and several players were linking up with neighbouring clubs. Jim was one of a group who switched to Castletown, and he also lined out for the North Meath team. He later played for a year or two with Kilberry.
The year 1959 saw Jim’s life take a turn as he married Mary Mulroy, and they settled in Termonfeckin. This move saw Jim throw his lot in with the St. Fechin’s club and he helped them win a Division 2 Championship.
Later, the family moved to Ballybalia, just outside Ardee. Despite this, Jim remained deeply involved with the GAA in his native Meath, filling a variety of roles.
He trained the Syddan team in 1980 that contested the final of the 1980 SFC and he was subsequently chosen as a selector with the Meath senior team. He was a selector along with Sean Boylan when the Centenary Cup was annexed in 1984 and later filled the same role with the Junior team that won Leinster titles in 1986 and 1988 as well as the All-Ireland title in the latter season.
01-11-09. Seneschalstown v Wolfe Tones – Commons Hardware Meath SFC Final at Pairc Tailteann. Centenary Cup Winning Team and Selectors (1984) L to R. Back: Frank O’Sullivan, Tony Craven, Mick Lyons, Robbie O’Malley, Robbie O’Connell (Representing Martin O’Connell). Gerry McEntee, Mattie McCabe, Liam Smith, Jinian Murtagh, Colm O’Rourke, ——, ——-, Donal Smyth. Front: Jim Curtis, Colm Coyle, Joe Cassells (Calt), Paraic Lyons, Jimmy Fay, Padraig Finnerty, —–, ——-, ——–. Photo: John Quirke / http://www.quirke.ie ©John Quirke Photography
Jim also served at County Board level, both on the Executive and the Disciplinary Committee. One of his treasured involvements was as Chairman of the Sean Gael Committee on which he served with Brian Smyth. This committee gave great recognition to many of the older generation of volunteers who had provided great service to the GAA.
Jim also served for many years as a ‘Gateman’ in Páirc Tailteann and was attending games up until very recently.
Pictured at the Meath Hurling and Football medal presentations in Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, County Meath. From left: Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net 20-10-2023
Predeceased by his wife Mary in 2022 and son Seamus in 2023, Jim is mourned by his sons Denis, Derek and Martin, daughters Jeanette, Noeline and Anne-Marie, brother Noel and extended family.
Coiste na Mí C.L.G. extend our sympathies to Jim’s family and wide circle of friends.
