RIP: Kilkenny GAA club pay tribute to legend with 'heavy hearts'

John Lockes GAA Club have released a heart wrenching tribute in memory of their late and beloved club member John Donovan.

John sadly passed away on Wednesday evening after a long illness with the local man a familiar and popular face on the streets of Kilkenny City and Callan. - READ MORE HERE

"It is with heavy hearts that we pay tribute to one of our favourite sons, John Donovan, who has taken his leave of us but whose memory will be enshrined in a few different generations of the John Lockes family," the club said in a statement.

"When you call somebody a die hard supporter of a club, that was John, no if's or buts, if you wore a Lockes jersey John had your back and you had his unequivocal support through thick and thin. Though born with a physical disability John never allowed it to prevent him being a part of his beloved club and was as much part of many a John Lockes squad, as anyone who wielded a hurley.

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"John was never over age for any team as he embraced the hurlers as far back as the '76 "Primary School Brigade" as he called them, to the present day minor and junior teams where he was so proud of young Ryan and Ollie and all his kin. He was also very proud of his niece Robyn who won her own county final with John Lockes Camogie club only a couple of weeks ago," the statement continued.

"John loved being in the dressing room before matches getting the inside story and being part of the highs and the lows. I can still see him nearly jumping out of his skin when Georgie Leahy or Barrie Henriques would let fly with a hurley on a table in a moment of passion. Our very own club version of Peter Pan has appeared in team photographs over a period of 40 or so years and there has never been a prouder Lockes man sharing in the victories over four decades with a whole host of people who regarded John as their friend."

"It is fair to say that John will be missed by all who had the honour of calling him a friend and our club is losing a great and loyal member as are his family, sisters Tracey and Siobhan, brother Jessie and families and extended Donovan and Ryan family. John was a brother to many of us in John Lockes and we were lucky to have him in our lives and club for over 50 years. May John rest in peace," the club spokesperson concluded.

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FULL STATEMENT BELOW: