BRIAN Conlon was a man whose influence extended far beyond the borders of his beloved county Down, but it is in the city and the community to which he gave so much where he will be missed most.
The 53-year-old passed away on Saturday following a battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy of success after building Newry-based financial software firm First Derivatives into a £1billion business.
Away from the world of work though, family and football were his passions. DJ Kane, Down’s All-Ireland winning captain in 1994, was a long-time friend and team-mate who watched his meteoric rise with pride.
And Kane believes that, had it not been for a career ending injury, Brian Conlon would also have been an integral part of the county’s success story during the early ’90s.
He said: “Brian was a year younger than me but I played with him in teams from Abbey primary school right up through Abbey grammar after. We played for the same club too - he played for Newry Mitchel’s and I played for Newry Mitchel’s at that time.
“When he was younger he was a tall, thin lad but as he got older he developed out into a big lump of a man. I’ve said it many times before, but he was an outstanding footballer.
“He was a great athlete – he competed in different athletic events, he was a great runner, had great hands, he was a great fielder of the ball and two-footed.
“Most of his career would’ve been playing wing half-forward or midfield, and he was brought into the county senior panel not long after he had turned 18 and was actually playing on that team. In those days, for an 18-year-old to jump into county football, it’s a different ball game than now.
“Brian had all the attributes you would’ve wanted to play Gaelic football in those days, and I would safely say he would’ve played in those Down teams that were successful, had it not been for his injury.
“His ability and his commitment were beyond question.”
Even after his playing days were cut short, coming to an end following a “freak accident” during a Sigerson Cup game in 1987, Conlon retained close links with old team-mates and the GAA community within the county.
“From a Down point of view I know he was very helpful in many different ways,” added Kane.
“He loved sport and obviously had a huge commitment to Down and did a lot for them behind the scenes, and I was talking to him at the matches there a couple of weeks ago, against Armagh and then Mayo.
“Even though he was such a busy guy and had so much going on from a business and family point of view, he still had a great interest in the GAA and a great love for it.
“It’s very obvious to see the effect he had on the town and the local area from an employment point of view, and keeping his business here was a magnificent thing for Newry.
“He was such a young man and I’m sure he had many great plans for the future. Given the nature and the character of the guy, it’s just something you never expect to happen, and then for it to happen so suddenly, it’s a massive shock for the whole area and a huge loss for everyone who knew Brian.”
‘A great son of Down’: county board pays tribute to Brian Conlon
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Brian Conlon, a former county footballer and great friend of Down GAA. Brian was one of the most talented footballers to wear the red and black in the mid 1980s before injury cut short what could have been a most promising career.
The Newry Mitchel’s player won a minor football championship with his club in 1982 and had been an outstanding underage footballer for both Mitchel’s and Abbey CBS in Newry; he was identified then as a future senior county player.
It was no surprise then that Brian made his inter-county debut in the 1985 National League before featuring in the Ulster Championship defeat to Donegal that same year in Ballybofey.
In the 1986 National League Brian was finding his feet on the inter-county scene and firmly announced his arrival when, in the first home game, he grabbed Down's fifth goal in an impressive win over Monaghan.
Brian's performances helped Down win their section before falling to Laois in extra-time in the League quarter-final.
Under the management of Sean Smyth, Brian was to play a key role as an impact sub in that year’s Ulster Championship, after defeating Donegal, Down faced defending champions Monaghan and ended their reign in a replay in Castleblaney when Brian Conlon in as a sub took a pass from Brendan Mason to shoot to the net and put the seal on a Down victory, 2-11 to 1-11.
Brian featured again in the semi-final where he returned the favour for Brendan Mason to goal and in the final when Down lost to Tyrone.
An injury in the Sigerson Cup campaign of 1987 playing for Queen’s brought an end to Brian's playing career, and alas we would never get to know the full potential of this most talented footballer.
In life, Brian became a very successful business man when he founded First Derivatives and went on to take the business to the world stage. Brian still retained a great love for the GAA and for Down; this year he was able to be present for our Championship meetings with Armagh and Mayo and one could see the passion and love he had for the game as he met with former players and shared good memories.
Brian was a great friend to Down GAA in so many ways, quietly and without ceremony he made a difference to the county just as he made a difference for his home city of Newry, where he created employment and never forgot his roots.
On behalf of Down GAA we extend our sympathies to Brian's wife Julie, his beloved children, his mum Josephine, sister Kathy brother Ciaran and the entire Conlon family circle .
Brian Conlon truly was a great son of Down. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
Seán Óg Mac an tSaoir
Down County Board
