Sir, – The phrase “one in a million” is used and abused, but it could have been coined for the late Con Houlihan. An entire generation was inspired and entertained by his wonderful writings, writings which at times turned out to be unconsciously self-appropriate.
Con once described horse-racing visionary Phil Bull as a man who “gave a multitude of people a great deal of pleasure”, while footballer Liam Brady was described by Con as “that rare Irishman – he made the most of his gifts”. Both of those descriptions could also be applied to Con Houlihan.
“Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I am saddened to hear of the death of one of my heroes, Con Houlihan (Breaking News, August 4th). From Black Bush to black pudding; turf to Tennyson; Castle Island to Croke Park, or from soccer to socialism, Con had 1,001 words on every topic – and when he had, we had too.
The last time I spoke to Con was in April 1996, behind the shed end goal in Richmond Park as Derry City were playing a crucial LOI game. As I stood behind the goal taking in the spectacle, he approached me and said in an unusually clean voice, “Isn’t this a wonderful spectacle?” I replied that it was a great thing to see and as he turned away, I said “Oh Con, you were great in the RTÉ Guide the other day.” He smiled at me and walked away laughing, saying “That I was. That I was!” A genius and a half; he will be missed by everybody. – Yours, e tc,
Sir, – As a lad growing up in Finglas, the safest place to hide money in my house was between the sports pages of the Evening Press, the paper my father “took”. Not one of my family had the remotest interest in sport. When I heard of Con’s passing I was cast back to days when I read his column, spellbound – not for the sport, because I knew nothing of it, but for the pictures he painted.
As simple as that! Slán a Con. Codhladh samh. – Is mise,