It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of current club president Dessie Gorman, another important cog in the wheel of Simonstown's growth and development from small origins passing on to his eternal rest.

Dessie had served as president for the last seven years, having had two spells as chairman in vastly different eras. He was there from 1975 to 1980 just as the club was laying very firm foundations with the establishment of a juvenile arm and was involved in some fruitful land acquisition and sale that provided solid financial footing and again at the beginning of the new millennium, 2001 to 2004, as Simonstown contested its first two senior football finals.

Dessie's death comes just a few months after that of one of the other club presidents and great contributors, Mickey Clarke.

Like Mickey, he was there for Simonstown's origin and quickly became embedded in a variety of roles that progressed the club through those early years.

He filled many other positions in the club, from PRO in the 1980s to vice-chairman during John Howard's tenure from 1993 to 2000, a period of great development for the club with extensions to the current premises and the development of a second pitch.

Dessie was pivotal to all of these advances, providing wise counsel on so many matters in that calm and considered manner that he was renowned for.

Dessie, familiar to so many through his work as a distributor in the area for Jones Oil, took a particular interest in weaving the social fabric of the club.

He was one of the anchors of the hugely popular sports days at the club through the 1970s and '80s and, together with wife Olivia, would spend long hours making and producing the various components and items that made it such a successful summer occasion. In later years he was also instrumental in getting 'ballroom of romance' functions up and running in the club.

But whatever it was that needed doing, Dessie was one of those pillars that you set any task upon.

He was an ardent supporter of Simonstown teams and took great satisfaction seeing senior success finally visit the club in 2016 and 2017. Attached below is a photograph of Dessie savouring one of those occasions in the company of son Barry, long time team kitman Tommy Caffrey and former player Philip Traynor.

His passion for the Meath senior football team was strong too with no journey considered too taxing on a Sunday afternoon or Saturday evening.

His sense of administrative duty to the club was something handed down to Barry who served as Simonstown club secretary and has also been a valued committee member in the past.

Dessie extended his GAA activism to Meath county board, regularly helping out as a steward with responsibility for the wheelchair stand in Pairc Tailteann. His presence around the club and at games will be sadly missed by all who knew him and appreciated a lifetime commitment and interest he had in club matters at all levels.

We extend our sympathy to Olivia, Barry, Ruth, son in law Daniel, Barry's partner Marie, grandchildren Thomas and Harry, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and relatives.

*Dessie Gorman (centre), club president and twice chairman, pictured at a juvenile presentation in the 1970s with John Howard (left) and Mickey Clarke.

https://rip.ie/death-notice/dessie-gorman-navan-meath/475096