Dublin GAA has lost one of its most tireless workers and staunch defenders with the untimely death of county board chairman Andy Kettle.

The Fingal Ravens clubman was heading into his fifth year in the job, having overseen a period of countless successes for Dublin on and off the field. He was 68.

One of the country's most visible GAA administrators, Kettle took over from Gerry Harrington at the end of 2010.

In his time as county chairman, Dublin won two All-Ireland football titles, Leinster titles in football and hurling as well as league titles in both codes. He had only just been returned unopposed for his fifth term in office at the county convention on Monday night.

Prostate cancer

Kettle, a former property advertising manager with

The Irish Times

, had survived a bout of prostate cancer around 14 years ago and had been in good health ever since.

He was a vigorous incumbent of the county chairman role, insisting from the start that he would rather appear in a tracksuit alongside the players and staff than in a suit up in the stands.

He was also a constant presence around Dublin teams and his easy-going manner – not to mention his willingness to be quoted – made him popular with the media.

His health turned in October, when a routine check-up showed the return of the cancer.

Downhill rapidly

He underwent chemotherapy for a couple of months. However, despite having coped reasonably well with the treatment – often driving himself to the hospital and sometimes heading off to catch matches in the county championship afterwards –- he went downhill rapidly three weeks ago.

A suspected infection turned out to be pneumonia and he has been in intensive care ever since.

Kettle is survived by his wife Phyllis, sons Patrick, Peter and Eoin and daughters Niamh, Orla and Ciara. Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a anam dhílis.