Remembering Our Own

Bobby Best

Submitted by George Kelly

Bobby Best was a leading Photographer at Shamrock Rovers for many years but foremost he was a Rovers Fan and a huge one at that! I worked with Bobby in a professional capacity outside of football. I knew him quite well. He was always accommodating and had time for everyone. He uniquely printed photos to hand out to kids at matches and it was great to see how much he enjoyed making new young fans happy. We collectively shared great times and sad times at Rovers and the laughs we had on the sidelines were always enjoyable. Bobby is sadly missed at Rovers but definitely not forgotten! Once a Hoop always a Hoop.

Brian O'Dwyer

Submitted by Shane, Keith and Steven O'Dwyer

This is our dad, Brian O'Dwyer. In the photo is my two brothers Steven and Keith. There are so many memories we had of him with us going to Rovers over the years. He first brought me to Milltown for the 83/84 season. Memory of the first game is patchy but the best memory I have is going to see us play and beat Arsenal in '87. Noel Larkin with the goal to beat them. My brothers Steven and Keith then joined us in the last days of Milltown. He passed away in '97 so, with the move from Milltown to Tolka and onwards to RDS and other grounds, he stopped going to as many games as he would like. But his love for Rovers passed on to us and onto my daughter Caoimhe. Rovers is huge in our family as we also have my cousins Paul and Kevin subsequently coming along when their dad Colm, my dad's brother, brought them.

Alan-James (A-J) Walsh

1986 - 2020

Submitted by Jim & Sheila Walsh

Late of Millbrook Lawns in Tallaght, A-J was a season ticket holder and regular attendee from the time Rovers came to Tallaght in 2009 until his passing on 25 May 2020. He is remembered in the 'Forever in Time, Brick in the Wall' memorial. Confined to a wheelchair as a result of having Cerebral Palsy, A-J enjoyed his place in the East Stand with his Mam Sheila and Dad Jim, except when supporters stood at the wall blocking the view of the pitch or when they were walking up and down to get food or visit the toilets. The wheelchair spaces were at ground level and very close to the perimeter wall around the pitch. And he didn't like being exposed to the rain as wheelchairs were not fully covered by the stand when the weather was bad. A complaint to the club secretary Noel Byrne brought an instant response and from that time on standing at the wall or access in front of the wheelchair section was restricted and well stewarded. Having a more covered area was discussed with SDCC but to no avail at the time. A-J would have enjoyed the current positions for wheelchairs in the South and North Stands. From there he would be venting his feelings at match officials or players using his favourite word, "GOBSHITE". A-J, RIP.

Glenn Dunne

Submitted by Hannah Dunne

Pictured is Nathan and Hannah Dunne with their late Dad Glenn. I think my favourite memory was when we won Four in a Row in Inchicore and my dad and I were on the pitch at the end celebrating and singing in the rain with all the Rovers fans.

David King

Submitted by Gary Parsons

David 'Kinger' King wore many hats: a co-founder of the South Stand Collective, he captured stories with the Humans Of Rovers social page, and was an avid graphic designer. He lived and breathed Shamrock Rovers, raising thousands for local charities and volunteering at the club. My fondest memory of Kinger is that even when he was unwell he did his utmost to stay positive and never let his situation affect his positive mindset, still managed to get himself and his kids to Stamford Bridge and even bunked a lift home on the team plane. A true Rovers legend.

Lummy O'Reilly

Submitted by Aidan O'Reilly

He was a regular follower of Rovers in the 60s, 70s and 80s before he passed. But he gave the gift of Rovers to his family, with his sons, grandsons and great-grandchildren supporters of the Hoops and members in some cases. He started the Rovers legacy that has been passed down generation to generation. Lummy was well known in junior football circles and in the intermediate section of the LSL they play for the Lummy O'Reilly Cup.

Anthony McDonald

Submitted by Gerry Desmond

Anthony McDonald, gone but not forgotten.

Robbie Moore

Submitted by Alan Wright

Forever loved and missed, never forgotten, Bob. KTGFFH.

Eileen Blehein

Submitted by Katherine Lynch

Photograph: Katherine and Mam at Tramore Beach, Waterford, our favourite place. Mam was from Waterford and we spent many summers in Tramore. Favourite moment: Mam walking me down the aisle on my wedding day, her and my proudest shared moment together. Mam is missed desperately every moment of every day; life will never be the same again.

Tommy Henderson Snr

Submitted by Liam Whelan

Shay O'Reilly, Tommy Henderson Snr and Liam Whelan on our final away trip in Limerick before Tommy became ill and unfortunately passed away less than a year later. Great memories with a gentleman.

Tony Mooney

Submitted by Niall Mooney

My dad's name was Tony Mooney. Favourite moment would be being there and clinching the four in a row at Richmond Park in October 2023.

James Walsh

Submitted by Paddy McQuid

Photo taken at the Europa League tie, 27th August 2020. Result 2-2 after extra time. Rovers won 12-11 on penalties. Jimmy was a very, very happy man that day.

Gerry Keane

Submitted by Alan Keane

Gerry Keane travelled all over the country following the Hoops back in the '60s and '70s. He never lost his love for the club up to his passing in January 2018.

Tony Clare

Submitted by Karen O'Reilly

Karen and Tony Clare, Tallinn, Estonia, 2011, which was our last away trip before Tony passed away. Dad brought me to Rovers since I can remember and gave me the love of the green and white. This love has now passed on to his grandkids, Amy and Daniel O'Reilly, but they know Grandad Tony is the reason for their love of the Hoops. Dad was from the York Street area of Dublin and followed Rovers all his life. He was thrilled to be part of the 400 Club and couldn't wait for Rovers to get to Tallaght, and was a Tallaght Hoops supporter club member for years.

Tony Ennis

Submitted by Karen O'Reilly

Tony passed away suddenly in February 2025, the morning of the Rovers vs Bohs game in the Aviva, a match we were all looking forward to. Tony was from Springfield in Tallaght originally, and was a passionate fan; you would have heard him down the South Stand. This photo was taken in London just before the Chelsea game with some of the Springfield Crew and his son Luke. For this trip, Tony put his job on the line as they were not going to give him leave to go. He said, making memories is more important, and went anyway. How right he was! He passed on his love of the Hoops to his kids, Luke, Conor and Grace, along with his nephew Cian and niece Cara.

Michael Donnelly

Submitted by Damian Donnelly

My father Michael took me and my brother Kevin to our first Shamrock Rovers match in 1997 in Milltown. His brother Tim were Shamrock Rovers supporters since the 1930s through to the '70s and '80s. Tim's son Anthony is still a Shamrock Rovers supporter and living in Athlone now. He was a childhood friend of Don Givens and his first international Ireland game to attend was in the 1970s, Don getting the winning goal against Denmark. I'll always remember my dad saying his favourite player was Paddy Moore and seeing him score four goals in a World Cup game in Dublin. As my dad and uncle Tim said, he was a world-class player and was their favourite Shamrock Rovers player.