At the time I was really too upset to write anything about you but now as we appraoch a year to your tragic passing I wanted to let you know how much you meant to everyone. Particulary at Dundalk FM and Dundalk FC.
It’s strange to think the last text message conversation I had with you was en route to the airport in Nice, France in June 2007. You were telling me all the banter from Oriel and I was delighted to hear from you. I was home a week and you became ill.
I didn’t see you again and to this day it pains me that I didn’t.
Neil you brought me in for what was supposed to be a one off interview for your lilywhites programme. You enthuasim for the radio and your expertise with ‘The Bible’ as we Dundalk FC fans call it - The History of Dundalk FC was fantastic. I enjoyed it so much I started coming in on the Saturday afternoon programme The Sports Academy. With you at the helm there was John Murphy, Lorcan Kirk, Richie Forde, Bernard Dunne and James Rogers. The banter was fantastic from all of us and we really had such a strong panel. I learnt an awful lot from you about how to carry yourself on Radio and the art of being a good presenter.
Off the mic we struck up a good friendship and I remember coming home from my then girlfriends house from Dublin late finding you on the bus as well. The company on those trips home was always great and appreciated. We talked about anything and everything but it always fell back to Dundalk FC and the show.
You told me about you illness and I always admired the fact that despite it you carried on and did so many fantastic things for people. Your kind hearted nature and friendship will always be remembered by everyone. As a friend I could not have asked for anyone better.
I am in rehearsals at the moment for a show, it was when i was doing rehearsals last year I got the phone call. I was heartbroken and still am to this day that I never got to talk, say goodbye or even shake your hand as we always did. As a friend I will always miss you and I know you are looking over me and everyone else. Two weeks ago I presented my first radio show on my own. I know you looked over me that night because I did so well, I also remember the day I was at home watching the FA Cup final, and you were on your own in the studio, I came in to give you a hand and the station went off air!!!
I hope wherever you are you’re safe, happy and most of all well. Will be thinking of you as I do this show in November, its my tribute to you.
Hi Neil..
I hav been trying to get on without thinking of u..But it dosent really work. So many random things and there u are. The house is so eerie now. Sometimes I go up and sit on the doorstep just to think. I cud always talk to u and we’d always remember the fun times together. I will never forget the song David Bowie “When I was 5″ that I used to like cause at the time i was 5, that one always made u laugh, or how i tried to put the measuring tape in the tape recorder!
Found a pic of jasper the other day 2, if it wasnt for u i cudnt hav done it. Rmember the day he took off down the road!?
Aww neil i miss u loads. I can sleep on my own now not afraid nemore but i always take a look to see if ur standing there before i close my eyes. Think u know i wudnt like if u came 2 visit! I remember the day we went to that medium 2 talk 2 granda n u kept saying dont b disappointed if he dosent come, but he did, i listen to the tape sometimes to hear ur voice again. I havet been ready to talk to u yet, i spose im afraid u wont come cause ur afraid cause of wat u did. I hope u will come and talk 2 me. I’ve been dreaming weird dreams of u, just last week i dreamt ud come back, i wonder if its a sign? I will come and talk to u soon but for now i like to think of this as if ur reading it. I hope u are cause theres been so many nice things and tributes written.
Its nearly a year.. I spose ur glad ur not here, ur probably happier where u are. I imagine it warm and bright and happy in which case the weather is shite here an am sure ur in good company where u are too, with granda no doubt. Miss him too. I just wish u hadve went to australia for the warmth n brightness instead of leaving us for good. Anyway.. Miss u Neil.
Talk again soon.
Big hug xxxxxxx
Hi Neil, I have to wish you a Happy Birthday you never missed any of our Birthdays. Ollie is having his 50th Birthday party this weekend and you will be missed, who will slag him now. Next year would have been your 40th but sure we will have a party for you, you know us always looking for a reason for a session. We all miss you so much and think about you all the time but a part of you will always be with us and you will be well quoted on Saturday night I’m sure. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Not a day go’s by without thinking of you, chocolate does not even taste the same, everytime I eat a piece I think of you. I love to look at your pictures and remember good memories. I do feel like I let you down, argue with myself for not calling you enough. Why you didn’t call me? I miss you Neil, miss you so much it hurts. Miss my friend and I know I can’t have you back, it seems so childish to think like that but thats how I feel. Love you, Sharon xx x
Here I am again writing to ya Neil. It seems silly but I don’t know what else to do. I miss u terribly. I see u in the oddest of places. Today we all met with ur friends from grow. They all spoke so highly of u, we saw pictures of the day u met the president. You looked fantastic. Everyone misses u so much. U really have helped so many people. Aston Villa are doing so well and ur not here 2 see it and boast about it!! I think its really hitting everyone now. We love u and we’re all so very sorry if we let u down in any way. I hope ur happy wherever u are. xxxx
Hi Neil
I met your mam out in Blackrock Abbey today at the Friends and Neighbours outside broadcast with Eddie Sherry and the Dundalk FM Outside broadcast crew - Joe, Paddy Jason,Edel and myself.
She enjoyed the music and the tea and cakes afterwards. Neil, Gerry Matthews mentioned your name this morning when I was talking to him after his interview on Dundalk Daily. He’s a fan of the station and of what you achieved with the Lilywhites Show and the unforgettable European Cup Spurs documentaries. You’ll never know the all good things I hear people say about you - a bit like getting feedback from radio listeners - days, months, years afterwards. I’d just like to say - you are in our thoughts here and in Oriel. Alan.
Neil,
I’m so sad to hear that you’ve gone. The chats we had about The Smiths and Morrissey and about our hopes and dreams seem long ago now. I wish things could have been different. You were someone I admired and respected and I hope you knew that. The world needs more people like you, with your quiet kindness.
This is sad sad news. I wish you peace.
“There is another world, there is a better world, there must be…”
Our family were very saddened to learn of Neil’s passing. He will be a grest loss to Dundalk football,radio and in particular his family and friends.
We will certainly miss the quiet chat and the post match comments. Not to mention the footbal trivia- second to none.
Aston Villa have lost a loyal supporter also.
Neil - you will be missed. RIP
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Dear Neil,
At the time I was really too upset to write anything about you but now as we appraoch a year to your tragic passing I wanted to let you know how much you meant to everyone. Particulary at Dundalk FM and Dundalk FC.
It’s strange to think the last text message conversation I had with you was en route to the airport in Nice, France in June 2007. You were telling me all the banter from Oriel and I was delighted to hear from you. I was home a week and you became ill.
I didn’t see you again and to this day it pains me that I didn’t.
Neil you brought me in for what was supposed to be a one off interview for your lilywhites programme. You enthuasim for the radio and your expertise with ‘The Bible’ as we Dundalk FC fans call it - The History of Dundalk FC was fantastic. I enjoyed it so much I started coming in on the Saturday afternoon programme The Sports Academy. With you at the helm there was John Murphy, Lorcan Kirk, Richie Forde, Bernard Dunne and James Rogers. The banter was fantastic from all of us and we really had such a strong panel. I learnt an awful lot from you about how to carry yourself on Radio and the art of being a good presenter.
Off the mic we struck up a good friendship and I remember coming home from my then girlfriends house from Dublin late finding you on the bus as well. The company on those trips home was always great and appreciated. We talked about anything and everything but it always fell back to Dundalk FC and the show.
You told me about you illness and I always admired the fact that despite it you carried on and did so many fantastic things for people. Your kind hearted nature and friendship will always be remembered by everyone. As a friend I could not have asked for anyone better.
I am in rehearsals at the moment for a show, it was when i was doing rehearsals last year I got the phone call. I was heartbroken and still am to this day that I never got to talk, say goodbye or even shake your hand as we always did. As a friend I will always miss you and I know you are looking over me and everyone else. Two weeks ago I presented my first radio show on my own. I know you looked over me that night because I did so well, I also remember the day I was at home watching the FA Cup final, and you were on your own in the studio, I came in to give you a hand and the station went off air!!!
I hope wherever you are you’re safe, happy and most of all well. Will be thinking of you as I do this show in November, its my tribute to you.
Take Care
Ciaran
October 9th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Hi Neil..
I hav been trying to get on without thinking of u..But it dosent really work. So many random things and there u are. The house is so eerie now. Sometimes I go up and sit on the doorstep just to think. I cud always talk to u and we’d always remember the fun times together. I will never forget the song David Bowie “When I was 5″ that I used to like cause at the time i was 5, that one always made u laugh, or how i tried to put the measuring tape in the tape recorder!
Found a pic of jasper the other day 2, if it wasnt for u i cudnt hav done it. Rmember the day he took off down the road!?
Aww neil i miss u loads. I can sleep on my own now not afraid nemore but i always take a look to see if ur standing there before i close my eyes. Think u know i wudnt like if u came 2 visit! I remember the day we went to that medium 2 talk 2 granda n u kept saying dont b disappointed if he dosent come, but he did, i listen to the tape sometimes to hear ur voice again. I havet been ready to talk to u yet, i spose im afraid u wont come cause ur afraid cause of wat u did. I hope u will come and talk 2 me. I’ve been dreaming weird dreams of u, just last week i dreamt ud come back, i wonder if its a sign? I will come and talk to u soon but for now i like to think of this as if ur reading it. I hope u are cause theres been so many nice things and tributes written.
Its nearly a year.. I spose ur glad ur not here, ur probably happier where u are. I imagine it warm and bright and happy in which case the weather is shite here an am sure ur in good company where u are too, with granda no doubt. Miss him too. I just wish u hadve went to australia for the warmth n brightness instead of leaving us for good. Anyway.. Miss u Neil.
Talk again soon.
Big hug xxxxxxx
July 25th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Hi Neil, I have to wish you a Happy Birthday you never missed any of our Birthdays. Ollie is having his 50th Birthday party this weekend and you will be missed, who will slag him now. Next year would have been your 40th but sure we will have a party for you, you know us always looking for a reason for a session. We all miss you so much and think about you all the time but a part of you will always be with us and you will be well quoted on Saturday night I’m sure. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Love Ollie, Julie and Becky xxxxx
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 am
Not a day go’s by without thinking of you, chocolate does not even taste the same, everytime I eat a piece I think of you. I love to look at your pictures and remember good memories. I do feel like I let you down, argue with myself for not calling you enough. Why you didn’t call me? I miss you Neil, miss you so much it hurts. Miss my friend and I know I can’t have you back, it seems so childish to think like that but thats how I feel. Love you, Sharon xx x
March 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Here I am again writing to ya Neil. It seems silly but I don’t know what else to do. I miss u terribly. I see u in the oddest of places. Today we all met with ur friends from grow. They all spoke so highly of u, we saw pictures of the day u met the president. You looked fantastic. Everyone misses u so much. U really have helped so many people. Aston Villa are doing so well and ur not here 2 see it and boast about it!! I think its really hitting everyone now. We love u and we’re all so very sorry if we let u down in any way. I hope ur happy wherever u are. xxxx
February 14th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Hi Neil
I met your mam out in Blackrock Abbey today at the Friends and Neighbours outside broadcast with Eddie Sherry and the Dundalk FM Outside broadcast crew - Joe, Paddy Jason,Edel and myself.
She enjoyed the music and the tea and cakes afterwards. Neil, Gerry Matthews mentioned your name this morning when I was talking to him after his interview on Dundalk Daily. He’s a fan of the station and of what you achieved with the Lilywhites Show and the unforgettable European Cup Spurs documentaries. You’ll never know the all good things I hear people say about you - a bit like getting feedback from radio listeners - days, months, years afterwards. I’d just like to say - you are in our thoughts here and in Oriel. Alan.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Neil,
I’m so sad to hear that you’ve gone. The chats we had about The Smiths and Morrissey and about our hopes and dreams seem long ago now. I wish things could have been different. You were someone I admired and respected and I hope you knew that. The world needs more people like you, with your quiet kindness.
This is sad sad news. I wish you peace.
“There is another world, there is a better world, there must be…”
December 19th, 2007 at 9:37 am
RIP,you will be sadly missed at Oriel and the away trips!
A True Gent!
December 17th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Our family were very saddened to learn of Neil’s passing. He will be a grest loss to Dundalk football,radio and in particular his family and friends.
We will certainly miss the quiet chat and the post match comments. Not to mention the footbal trivia- second to none.
Aston Villa have lost a loyal supporter also.
Neil - you will be missed. RIP
December 13th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
The airwaves is a quieter place when someone with a unique talent is no longer there to fill them.
RIP