DEATH OF OLD GAA STAR

LEINSTER  LEADER 24 MAY 1980

Death of old GAA star

The death took place suddenly last Wednesday of Mr. Joseph (Joe) Curtis, Our Lady’s Place, Naas, member of the famous Kildare Gaelic football team which won the senior All-Ireland Championship for two years running – 1927-1928.

Native of Naas, Joe was reared in New Row.  He spent most of his life in the army and was a military policeman on the Curragh during the war years.  On coming out of the Army he was employed in the post office in Naas as caretaker and worked there until his retirement.  He was one of the most popular citizens of the town: a gentle, kindly man who had two great loves in his life outside of his family – football and horses.  He was active up to his death and was a familiar figure in the town riding his bicycle.

He played Gaelic football for the local Naas Club.  He was a member of the Kildare team which won six Leinster senior football titles in a row – between 1924 and 1929, the hey-day of football in the county, and a decade when the Lilywhites were one of the most feared teams in the land.

Injured

In the 1927 All Ireland final Joe scored two points.  He almost missed the final the following year as had broken three ribs in the semi-final.  However, his replacement could not play and Joe lined out although he was heavily strapped up.  He scored a very valuable point that day and Kildare became the first-ever winners of the new Sam Maguire Cup.  Years later Joe, who always played as a forward, said that high catching and long kicking were the distinctive features of the game in those years.

He rated as one of his disappointments the calling off of a trip by the All-Ireland champions to New York after the 1928 final.  It was cancelled due to financial problems.  Joe continued to play football for his local club and for the county for a good number of years after the halcyon days of the late twenties.  He never lost his interest in football, often cycling long distances up to recent years to see Naas play.  He was interested in all sports, and enjoyed soccer as well as the native code.  Only recently his achievements in sport were honoured when he was the recipient of a special token – an enscribed silver tray – in the Philips G.A.A. All-Stars awards.

Remains were removed to the parish church on Thursday evening and the funeral took place after Mass, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ramsbottom, C.C., on Friday morning to St. Corban’s Cemetery, Naas.  Rev. Fr. Grogan, a friend of the family, officiated at the graveside.  Guards of honour were provided at the obsequies by members of Naas G.F.C.  and the Co. G.A.A. Board.  On the coffin were placed jersies in the colours of Joe’s club and in the county’s colours.  The attendance was large and representative of all sections of the community.

Joe was predeceased by his wife Christina four years ago.  He is survived by his sons, Mick (Patrician Ave., Naas); Joe (Sarto Park, Naas);  John (St. Martin’s Avenue, Naas);  and Thomas (Our Lady’s Place);  and daughters, Mary (Naas);  and Essie (Blackchurch), and by  his sister Mrs. Moll Waldron, Sarto Road, and by in-laws and grandchildren.

 Re-typed by Mary Murphy