The sad news of the passing of Michael Walsh Craughdarrig, Asdee
numbed the entire community on Wednesday morning last. Michael whom had borne a
brave illness for some time was a gentleman to the core. A member of the licence trade
for numerous years he was always pleasant and helpful in his dealings with customers
and friends alike. Despite being born in England Michael returned to Asdee with his late
father whom took over the family business in Craughdarrig, Asdee. He immediately
became a part of the very close knit community and quickly established a true love of the area. But to most of us Michael will be best remembered for his marvellous service and dedication to the G.A.A.

He began his playing career in early 1960's and played football with Ballylongford during the glory years of the late 60s to mid 70s and was a vital cog in that great team that contested no fewer than five North Kerry Senior Championship's and one County Intermediate Championship plus another County Intermediate Final which was never played in 1972 against Listowel Emmets. During this period that particular team won the admiration of many throughout the County and in particular this was the era that an intense rivalry was build between neighbours Ballylongford and Tarbert. Having failed in the North Kerry Championship Final of 1965 Michael had to wait until 1968 for his first Senior Championship Medal when the team defeated Ballyduff in the Final. He was a sub on the 1969 team that were defeated by Tarbert.

In 1970 he was missing from the team loosing another medal when this great team defeated Tarbert in Moyvane. But in 1971 he was back in force winning not alone a North Kerry Championship medal against Moyvane in which he scored 2 pts, a County Intermediate Medal against Dr Crokes in which he scored that all important goal just before half time to equalise the scoreline at the break and in which Ballylongford went on to win by 2-14 to 0-10. In 1972 he was again on the loosing side that were defeated in the North Kerry Championship final against Listowel Emmets. Also in 1972 he won a Kiely Cup medal when Ballylongford defeated Finuge in the final. In 1973 he won a North Kerry League medal, In latter years he was to play Junior Football with the club which he enjoyed for several years. But he was also instrumental in the Shannon Rangers team's of 1964 when he won his first County Championship medal when Rangers defeated a fancied East Kerry and in 1972 he was a sub when Rangers defeated Mid Kerry. In 1972 also Michael captained a North Kerry Team Selection that toured Armerica and played in Cities such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Toronto, Detroit and New York. During those historic years many of the Ballylongford team played with Kerry at either Senior or Junior Grade and Michael played both senior and in particular Junior in which he won an All Ireland medal in 1967.

Prior to this he had been on the Kerry Junior team that were defeated by Cork in the Munster Semi Final of 1962. In those early years Carnival Tournaments were a major attraction and even possibly in level par with the North Kerry Championship. Ballylongford competed in numerous Finals throughout North Kerry and West Limerick where you had great teams from Glin, Athea, Foynes, Tarbert, Moyvane, Listowe1 and Ba1lylongford but to mention a few. Michael was always on hand for these games and won many a tournament medal in these villages throughout North Kerry and West Limerick. The esteem that this man was held in really showed by the huge volume of sympathisers that turned out for the removal of his remains and burial. It was particularly heartening to see the massive Guard of Honour in both Ballylongford and Asdee. In Asdee the club members and players shouldered his remains from the foot of the village to the Church. To his Wife, Son, Daughters, Family and Friends we offer our heartfelt sympathy. Ar dheis de go raibh an ainm, We would particularly like to thank so many people for their help in gaining the information on Michael's long a lustrous playing career.