Wally Clarke RIP
It is with great sadness that I must report the sad passing of Wally Clarke, a Cathal Brugha Club elder, who was a legendary figure in Irish aquatics, held in the highest esteem by everyone throughout the water polo and swimming community in Ireland and beyond.  We send our sincere condolences to the Clarke family, who are in our thoughts and prayers at this very sad time.

I always looked forward to meeting up with Wally for a coffee at Forrest side Shopping Centre and whilst people scurried past us busily doing their shopping, I would listen intently to Wally’s tales of yesterday, when water polo was played 7-a-side in the old Falls Baths, leather water polo ball, players standing on the bottom, rough games and rivalries in abundance.  Wally would mention names like Delargy, Gilmore, Burns, Ogle, Smyth, O’Neill and others, all of whom held ‘superstar’ status within the history of our Club….never mentioning his own prowess as a Brugha player at both Junior and Senior level.
There are many stories I could relate about Wallys water polo and swimming experiences, but here’s one for the history books.
In 1963, Wally was a young Treasurer of what was then the Ulster Branch of the Irish Amateur Swimming Association and funds were low, so Wally decided to book Belfast’s Ulster Hall with the intention of running a fundraising event for the Branch.  The only date available was during the Christmas period in 1964….more than a year away, but Wally decided to take a chance and placed the Ulster Hall booking anyway.  The Hall was booked but Wally didn’t have an act to perform, so he took a chance and booked a then little-known folk group….the event turned out to be the first time that the Dubliners ever played in Belfast!  The night was a sell out and the Ulster Branch bank manager was very happy!
When his playing career ended, Wally went on to hold every single senior administration post in Irish Water Polo and Swimming, including serving as President of Ireland Water Polo, and had a seismic influence on aquatics throughout the country.  In 2011 Wally was elected as President of Swim Ireland and in 2018 he was inducted into the Swim Ireland Hall of Fame.
No one in Irish aquatics could ask for a greater contribution to our sport from an individual person.
Yes,  throughout his life Wally Clarke served his Club and Country with distinction, making many lifelong friends along the way, of which I am proud to say I was one.
Rest in peace Wally

Phil Kelly
Cathal Brugha Swimming & Water Polo Club