Christmas celebrations in Delvin were somewhat overshadowed by the passing of one of the village's true characters, Joe Greville, who was laid to rest on December 27.

Despite living in Clondone Terrace off the Ballyhealy Road for more than 50 years, he was a Raharney man through and through, and took great delight from their many hurling successes, with their most recent SHC victory in 2010 - when they staged an incredible late comeback to beat Clonkill - being particularly satisfying for Joe or 'Jaspar' as he was affectionately known.

Joe had quite a reputation on the sideline, especially when his beloved Raharney were in action. And while his passion for the blue and white sometimes got the better of him, all was forgotten about at the final whistle as those who knew Joe were acutely aware of how much his team meant to him.

On leaving school, Joe joined the Military Police at Columb Barracks in Mullingar before moving to England where he worked in the coalmines near Manchester and later on the buildings in Sheffield and London. But after marrying his beloved Teenie on St. Patrick's Day in 1959, the couple and their then young son Chris returned home to Ireland three years later, and made Delvin their home.