Cork City supporters rally in grief over club legend John Kennedy

The late John Kennedy will leave a great hole to fill, but also a strong legacy, in Cork City.

Kennedy, a Skibbereen native, who had been involved with the Rebel Army since 1989, died Friday.

Hailing from Upper Bridge St in Skibb, he left for Dublin in 1981 and returned to Cork seven years later.

After having been involved in youth and community work, he joined Ógra Chorcaí in 1988 and remained until 2013, when the organization merged with Foróige, for whom he still worked.

Social media tributes summed up the Trojan work he did, with Ronan Leonard tweeting: “I never thought an empty Turner’s Cross stadium could be emptier. Go well, John.

Cork City team manager and former president Mick Ring feels Kennedy embodied that volunteer spirit that sustains clubs like City.

“We were elected to the board together in 2012,” he says, “and he was the vice chair with me in 2013.

“I would have known John from going to games since the 1990s, but when we got on the board together we became friends, he was at my wedding in 2012.

“John was everyone’s friend, he saw the best in everyone. The dedication was terrifying, even when their days together were over, they returned to the family compound.

“He was always the first to enter, put up posters and flags, in all the underage games and collected money at the door; there was no task that was too slavish for John. He rowed where he had to “.

Given that he gave so much to City, replacing him will be impossible.

“It will take more than one person and it will probably cost a fortune,” says Ring.

“There were so many things that John did that firstly, people didn’t appreciate it, secondly, they didn’t know about it, and thirdly, he wouldn’t want to be credited with it.

“The incalculable work he did behind the scenes, no one will ever know. I think his legacy is already there with the closing of the family and there are a lot of good volunteers there, like Pat Sisk, who has stepped into the gap.

“I was getting text messages from people in Sligo, Dundalk; He was known throughout the league and will be greatly missed.

“It is a pity that we cannot do a proper tribute in the next home game. There are many other things we can do, but 2020 has been one hit after another.

“The League of Ireland has been difficult and losing someone like that on top is really a dagger to the heart.”

In 2019, a special introduction to John by the club marked 30 years of service, inspired by the late Noelle Feeney.

“I’d been to some City games while I was in Dublin,” he said at the time, “then in 1988, I brought a group of kids from Farranree to a game at Turner’s Cross.

“I met Noelle Feeney, who gave her life to City, and as I was attending more games I got to know here and they asked if I would get involved and become a volunteer.

“Initially, I was a general manager and made teas and coffees, but when Brian Lennox took over, he wanted the club to be fully integrated into the community and family oriented. Since City became a fan-run club under Foras, that spirit has continued.

“There have been many ups and downs, many near misses since then, but I loved it!

“I always use the phrase, ‘City until I die, and beyond’, one of these days I will go further, but I would like to think that wherever I am floating, I will still watch the games.”