Revealing message from Kevin Fennelly, known as Scillachi

[Krista Clem-O'Sullivan]

My name is Kevin Fennelly, known as Scillachi on this side of the pond. I come from Abbeyleix, County Laois, Ireland.

I met Scully for the first time in 1990 in San Francisco. I was in town to play hurling but after a good few beers, agreed to tog out with Erin's Isle football team. I arrived for training the following week, not knowing anybody. I was no sooner on the field when this hardy looking fellow approached me with his hand outstretched and a firm handshake. "Scully's the name" he said with a firm handshake. "Welcome to Erin's Isle Football club." Two minutes later he drove me about 20 yards across the pitch with a shoulder- that was the real welcome!

After that we became good friends, he gave me my first job here, he taught me how to tile... he also taught me how to have a good time! We went from strength to strength that year in the football with Scully leading the way. I will have to say that he never let the team or any single person in it down - he always had your back. In the final in Chicago, we were up by one point with time up when the opposition got a free kick 20 yards from goal. The guy was standing with the ball in his hand when Scully went up and whispered something in his ear. Shortly after, not alone did the guy miss the score but he kicked the ball right into Scully's arms. Nobody and I mean nobody was getting that ball back! Game over = Erin's Isle American Champions

I had one of the best weeks of my life the week after in San Francisco with Scully and the crew. I went back to Ireland after that and thought that I would never see any of those people again. Little did I know, a couple of years later Scully was in Ireland. He was traveling from Dublin to Kerry and on the way he had to pass through my hometown of Abbeyleix. He stopped to look me up for a few pints, but unfortunately Scully only knew me as 'scillachi', a nickname that no one in Abbeyleix had known of. Scully decided to take a chance and pulled up beside this blonde woman walking down Main street, and asked if she ever heard of a guy called Scillachi. Her reply was "I should do, I'm married to him" Small world. I met up with Scully that night and we had a mighty craic. The following morning he was on his way home to Valentia, leaving me with a hangover and a half (not for the first time).

Thanks for the great memories John Michael O Sullivan. Gone but not forgotten.
May you rest in peace.

[Michael I. Pulskamp]

Thank you so very much for sharing this.