How Micko 'sorted' food for his Kerry entourage at a County Roscommon funeral

Former Kerry footballer Darragh Ó Sé has recalled a story about the late Mick O’Dwyer at a funeral in County Roscommon, and how he looked after his traveling party in terms of food for the day.

Writing in his Irish Times column this week, Ó Sé paid a wonderful tribute to the Kerry legend who led the Kingdom to All-Ireland senior football championship success against Roscommon in 1980.

However, in his piece, Ó Sé reflected on Micko Dwyer’s wit and charm, and he utilised both during a visit to County Roscommon a decade ago.

“About 10 years ago, he was on one leg after hurting his ankle. There was a funeral to go to above in Roscommon and a few of us were going so I said I’d drive.

“On the way up, he was thanking us for the spin and the company and he said, ‘Now, I’ll look after ye food-wise, lads’.

“John, his son, was in the car and I saw him rolling his eyes, as if to say, ‘Right, let’s see how he goes about this now.’ 

Ó Sé continued with the story, recalling how the entourage from the Kingdom went into a pub near the church where everything was laid out for the funeral.

“We were a couple of hours early so all the tinfoil was on the sandwiches. But sure as soon as the ladies there saw it was Mick O’Dwyer, they went off and got tea and lifted the tinfoil and said, ‘Lads, will ye have a sandwich there?’.

“We were a bit slow to go for it but Micko dove straight in and lifted a pile of them out of the middle of the tray. And so we went at it too and soon enough we had our fill. Micko went up to the bar and said, ‘What’s going to you?’ making out he was trying to pay for the sandwiches.

“But sure he knew well they wouldn’t hear of taking a cent off him. All they wanted was a few photos. We went out and got into the car and the first words out of his mouth were: ‘Didn’t I say I’d sort ye?’.

One of the many great stories told about the famous Micko who was laid to rest in his native Waterville last weekend.