Mourners have paid touching tributes to Mick O'Dwyer this morning as the legendary former footballer and manager was laid to rest.
O'Dwyer, affectionately known as 'Micko,' passed away this week at the age of 88 leaving behind a trail of wonderful memories for all involved in Gaelic football.
An icon in Kerry, Micko won four All-Ireland's as a player and was named footballer of the year in 1969. He took over as manager during the 1970's and won a remarkable eight All-Ireland titles as Kerry boss.
After leaving the kingdom, Micko brought his magic all over the country, helping Kildare, Laois and Wicklow achieve levels of success that hadn't been seen in any of those counties for decades and hasn't been seen since his departure.
He managed underage teams well into his 70's, winning an u-14 title with his local Waterville team 11 years ago.
Today, mourners including Taoiseach Micheal Martin, GAA President Jarlath Burns, Kerry greats Pat Spilline, Jimmy Deenihan, Sean Boylan, Jacko O'Shea, Tom Prendergast, Johnny Doyle, Ambrose O'Donovan, 'The Bomber' Liston and Maurice Fitzgerald all gathered to pay tribute to Micko as he made his final journey.
"You always said how lucky you were to be born in the kingdom of Kerry, and I say, how lucky were we just to know you. It's that simple," said RTE journalist and close friend Marty Morrissey at the funeral.
"Through your talents as a footballer and a manager, you brought great joy to this magnificent county of Kerry. This is the kingdom, and you will always be the king.
"I had this dream during the week that as you pass through the pearly gates of heaven, St Peter will meet you and say: 'Thank God you're here, Micko. We need a player manager', and your response will be: 'Peter, training starts tomorrow night at seven o'clock', because that is you, Micko.
"Thank you for being you. You were a kind and loving man who loved life, loved family, loved Waterville, loved Kerry, loved football.
"But you need to know that all of us across our nation, across the four provinces of Ireland, loved you and admired you with all our hearts. You were my great friend, Micko.
"What a legend - we will never see the likes of him again".
Michael O'Flynn, Micko's great friend of many decades, delivered a touching eulogy: "Thank you all for gathering here today, not just to mourn the loss of a legendary figure, but to celebrate the life of a man who was, in every sense, a giant both on and off the field, Mick O'Dwyer.
"While Micko's success on the field was extraordinary, it is his character off the field that we remember most.
"He was unmatched to his players, his friends, his community and his family. He always had time for people, no matter how busy his life was.
"Many of us here today can testify to Micko's generosity, his kindness and his unwavering loyalty as a friend.
"Whether you are a fellow manager, a player on his team or simply someone he encountered along the way, Micko made you feel valued, heard and supported.
"As a sporting legend, he was only known as Micko, but for many who were privileged to be close to him, they knew the man behind the accolades. They knew him as a family man.
"He was astoundingly intelligent, effortlessly articulate and entirely self-educated, a man whose natural instincts alone, propelled him to remarkable achievements."
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