The huge attendance at both the removal and funeral mass for the late Jim Redmond bore testimony to the esteem in which he was held in the local community in Wexford and the sport of athletics in general. Jim's was a lifetime passion for our sport. Back in the sixties he competed with distinction at cross country at county, regional and national level for his club DMP.Once his competitive career ceased he devoted a large part of his life in the administration of the sport.He was highly effective in every role he undertook and left a lasting impression on all who worked with him. He was a particularly effective treasurer of the county board for many years.Jim was instumental in procuring and delivering two major national championships in Wexford. In 1988 the national marathon (it was also the Olympic trial that year) was held in Wexford. That event still stands in the annals of the sport as the best-ever national marathon. In 1988 the national inter club cross country (trial for the world cross country as well) was held in Bree, Co Wexford. This again was one of the finest cross country championships ever held. As a competition official at major events he was extremely competent and most emenable.A sense of fair play for all was his overriding motto. He was simply one of life's true gentlemen. It was a well-deserved distinction which Athletics Leinster bestowed upon him a few years ago when they presented him with an award for service to the sport. We will truly miss him. To his wife Helen, daughter Orla and grandson Killian, Athletics Ireland wish to convey its deepest sympathy.