James Howlin Obituary, Death – We mourn the loss of our chairman and club legend, James ‘Jim’ Howlin.
After a lengthy struggle with illness, Jim, from Grange, Rathnure, Co. Wexford, died peacefully on Tuesday morning surrounded by his family. Olive, Jim’s wife, died three months ago.
A terrible period for the Howlins. Jim played hurling with Rathure in Wexford before his family moved to England. Jim, his mother, father, and sisters Bridget and Marie moved to London at 15 in 1960. He started working on the highways in a rough time for Irish Londoners, and the family moved into a basement flat in Shirland Road, Madia Vale, West London.
Before joining Fr. Murphy’s in 1970, Jim hurled for the Treaty Gaels in London for four years. Jim hurled as a wingback and was known for never giving up. He possessed a terrific sliotar drive, always ready to fight. Jim moved forward in his later years and became a reliable free-taker. When we were a strong dual club, Jim enjoyed playing football.
Jim won every trophy in junior football, intermediate hurling, senior hurling leagues, and senior hurling cups, but the club never won a senior hurling championship. But for an unfortunate injury on the Watford hurling field, Jim might have kept hurling into his late 40s. An innocent hurl broke and hit Jim in the face, blinding him in his right eye.
