Hundreds attend funeral of former GAA president

Hundreds attended the funeral of former GAA president Joe McDonagh in Galway on Tuesday.

The Mary Immaculate Queen Church in Bearna was packed to capacity for the service, where the congregation heard he was a proud Gaeilgoir, sportsman and former teacher.

McDonagh died after a short illness aged 62.

Bishop of Achonry Brendan Kelly, a colleague of McDonagh's at Colaiste Einde, was chief celebrant, and said mass alongside Bearna parish priest Fr Des Forde and ten other priests.

During the mass, flags of hurling clubs represented by McDonagh were brought to the altar along with the number five Galway jersey, medals, and an English and Irish dictionary to represent his time as a teacher.

McDonagh was buried in the nearby Rahoon Cemetry where his son Eoin delivered a graveside oration.

“Dad really enjoyed having all the varied geographic links and it undoubtedly helped to make him, as Darren Frehill so perfectly put it, the proudest Galway man I have ever known,” he said.

“Dad lived life to the absolute full. Though for us, to pass away at the relatively young age of 62 would mean that we would be missing out on so many things in life. For dad, this was certainly not the case. He packed at least three times worth of experiences and achievements into 62 years.

“Dad didn’t hold back one bit. He left absolutely everything out on the field of life and it seemed that God had now decided that he had given enough and it was time to call him ashore.

“It’s quite likely that as Dad ascends the steps to heaven, as he did the steps of the Hogan Stand 36 years ago with all of his colleagues, that our Lord will echo the immortal words of Micheal O’Hehir as he meets him by saying: well done Joe McDonagh.”

President Michael D Higgins was represented by his aide de camp Michael Kiernan at the mass, while Taoiseach Enda Kenny's aide de camp Kieran Carey was also present.

Among those in attendance were former All-Ireland winning teammates Joe Connolly and Noel Lane, former Galway hurling manager Cyril Farrell, and other GAA figures Conor Hayes, PJ Molloy, Sean Silke, Dr Mick Loftus, Marty Morrissey, and Brian Carty.