Time comes for everyone and last week, the final whistle was blown for one of the greats in Mayo sporting circles and the passing of Austin Garvin was widely mourned across the county.
Austin was one of the good guys. A man I had the privilege to spend plenty of time with over the past number of years on the sidelines of GAA pitches and alongside at council meetings in Claremorris he would be covering for the Mayo News.
He was a man of authority, firm belief, great warmth and friendship. He first rose to prominence as a young man who led Mayo to not one, but two All Ireland minor football titles in 1971 when he was just 24-years old and again in 1978 and while he'd never boast about it, you always could feel the pride and satisfaction when ever it would come up in conversation.
Schools and underage football were close to his heart at all times. In the worst of weather in the depths of winter, you would find him on the sideline at colleges league or championship games, diligently doing his work and keeping a close eye on the next new prospects coming up through the ranks. He'd take special interest in tracking how players he spotted progressed through their careers and have an encouraging word for them after tough defeats and memorable victories. But it wasn't just football, golf and boxing were other loves of his and his knowledge of those sports was second to none also.
He wasn't afraid to engage in a debate on football and how he saw it being played or what he thought a team should be doing. We had a few disagreements over the years, but the friendly ones where it wasn't just black or white, there was room for all opinions and discussion and a laugh at the end and knowing the next time you'd see him - there'd be a smile and good company.
Austin took great pride in his family, his wife Mary, his sons Paul and Adrian and his daughter Deirdre and it is to them and his extended family and friends that I wish to offer my sincere condolences and say thank you to, for letting him do what he did and letting me get to know one of the good guys.
His funeral mass took place last Saturday in St Colman's Church, Claremorris and he was laid to rest afterwards in St Colman's Cemetery. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
