The Late Jim Moore

Mullingar Shamrocks members and executive offers sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late Jim Moore. In particular sympathy is extended to Jim’s wife Carole and to his sons Jonathan, James, Daniel and Joseph. Sympathy is also extended to Jim’s brothers Martin, Ned, Tom and John and to his sister Breda, and to his daughter-in-law Natalie, to his sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

The Moore family arrived in Tudenham, Mullingar in April 1964 from their native Dunmore, Co. Galway. That was the year that Galway won the first of their three successive All-Ireland tiles and Eamon Moore brought Martin and Jim to Croke Park for the All-Ireland final. A Dunmore man, John Donnellan captained that team. This began an uninterrupted series of trips by Jim to Croke Park on All-Ireland final day that only ended in 2022. In 2014, Jim attended his fiftieth successive final when he watched Kerry defeat Dublin. Ironically, Jim was taken ill on the week of the 2022 football final and the condition that was to eventually prove fatal was discovered just a few weeks later.

Jim Moore the sportsman had many dimensions. His Gaelic football career began in St Mary’s where Seán Cleary, the full forward on the Galway 1964-66 All-Ireland champion team was the idol. Jim was a member of the St Mary’s College team that won the 1973 Leinster Under-17 Colleges Championships. Tudenham was The Downs GAA Club territory at this time thanks to the recruitment ability of Paddy Nolan and Jim played for several years for the club at senior level playing in five senior finals including the 1986 final against Mullingar Shamrocks. Jim won two Westmeath senior medals as a young panellist in 1974 and as a player in 1980 when Kilbeggan were defeated.

Jim loved his soccer too and (of course his rugby) he enjoyed a playing career with Mullingar Town that ran parallel to his Gaelic football career with The Downs. He was a key player on the Mullingar Town team that won the Counties Cup title in 1978 and he was also part of a Town team that won a couple of Midland FAI junior titles. In 2001 Jim was the key man and investor in what was a sensational and imaginative development when, in what was the most ambitious sporting project ever launched in Westmeath, he brought 16 players, all graduates of the London Soccer Academy to Mullingar to play for Mullingar Town. The plan was to secure League of Ireland status for the club within a couple of years. Leroy Rhodes, a former Brentford player, was recruited to coach the players who competed in the Under-21 National League. “Football is my passion and Mullingar Town has always been my team. It is my dream to see them play in the Eircom League.and I am willing to put my hand in my pocket to see that happen”, Jim said at the time. Unfortunately, the plan did not succeed and Kildare Town were awarded the League of Ireland place.

Jim moved to London in 1988 and in 1995 he founded the Scanmoor Construction Company. With Jim as Managing Director, the firm became a major force in the construction industry in London and the South East working on many prestigious projects including the Goldman Sacs headquarters in Fleet Street. Other projects included a contract to construct the Western Ticket Hall at King’s Cross station, structural works at Wembley stadium and a contract which involved the demolition, construction and refurbishment of bridges on the East London line. During the Scanmoor days several organisations benefitted from the company’s sponsorship including London GAA, Watford FC and Westmeath GAA.

The Tara GAA Club in London benefited from Jim’s administrative talents and ambition. Jim was a selector when the Tara Club won the London and British championship title in 2003 and he served the club as Chairman on a number of occasions. In 2018, when the club won the junior title Dean Moore was a key player.

Jim Moore was a networker supreme and knew people from all walks of life and sections of society. Jim was a man of many parts and talents but will be remembered most of all for his incredible generosity and family commitment.

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Jim’s funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Ar Dheis Dé go Raibh a Anam.