Kilmallock GAA Club would like to extend condolences to the family of Michael Earls, better known as Mickey, who passed away in July after a long illness. Mickey Earls was a life-long supporter of his beloved GAA club, Kilmallock. In his teenage years he played Juvenile and Minor hurling with the club and he was a very crafty forward. Sadly, he broke his leg at the age of eighteen and this ended his playing career. During the 1950s the School League was started by Michael O’Sullivan, a teacher at the local school. There was four teams involved from different areas of the parish. Emmett Street had the pick of the Town; The Hill had the pick of Knocksouna, Ballygibba and Tankardstown; Fairyfield picked from Ballingaddy, Fairyfield and Riversfield; the fourth team was Millmount and they had the pick the Millmount and Gortboy estates. Mickey Earls trained Millmount eventhough he was only a teenager himself. He took the job very seriously and organised training sessions three and four times each week for the young boys of the area. He made sure that every young fellow got a chance. His training skills were fantastic and he covered every area of the game to improve his players. He encouraged young lads to stay on at school when they were thinking of packing it in and by doing so he also ensured that Millmount had a strong team. Millmount often lost a game early in the league but they won all the finals. This was down to the work put in over the weeks and months by the trainer, Mickey Earls.
Many of the players under Mickey’s guidance in the School League later went on to win Senior Hurling titles with Kilmallock.
Mickey emigrated to England in the late 1950s and returned to Kilmallock in the 1970s. He married his beloved wife, Bernie Lewis(who sadly passed away three months before Mickey) and they raised a fine family of six boys and three girls.
After he returned from England Mickey got involved in the club and helped out at many functions over the years.
We in Kilmallock GAA club remember Mickey Earls with very fond memories and we will never forget his love for his native place and the love of hurling that he passed on to so many. God bless you Mickey and thanks for your wonderful contribution to Millmount and Kilmallock hurling.
