It is with great sadness that the Galtee Walking Club marks the passing of President Bob Noonan who passed away in September, 2012, RIP. A native of Galbally, Bob was a well known businessman in Tipperary Town and a long time walking enthusiast. He joined the walking club in 2003 when it was in its formative years and shortly afterwards, went on to become its first and only president.
Bob was unstinting in his vision and commitment to the club and participated fully in the hikes and rambles around the Galtees and further afield, until recent years when health issues finally forced him to hang up the boots. In his day he scaled many a peak including Croagh Patrick and the great Carrauntoohill where he first met and got to know our own great heroine hiker, Dr Claire O’Leary, whose support he greatly appreciated especially towards the end of his life. Bob was the life and soul of events wherever he went provoking great chat and craic. An encouraging and supportive walks leader, his great joy was to introduce new walkers to the hills and to the lore and legends of the area, the Hangmans Tree, the Famine Cottage or where, in 1976, a plane went down in the Galtees.
The club is indebted to Bob not only for his distinguished and enthusiastic role as President and Walks Leader, but also for the inspiration and support which he provided for those early club members, particularly Pat and Owen Ryan, who pioneered the club’s first Galtee Crossing. Indeed it was with their help, that Bob was able to fullfill his lifetime dream to traverse the entire Galtee range from west to east. The Crossing is now a major annual event in the club’s calendar.
The club extends their condolences to his wife Hannie and to all his family and everyone at the Galtee Walking Club offers their heartfelt thanks to them for sharing this very special human being with us over the years. His memory will always be with us as we tramp his familiar hills and his spirit will give us inspiration and courage when the going gets rough. Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam uasal.
