Donal Monaghan (Donegal)

Legendary Donegal footballer Monaghan, who passed away in January of this year, won two Ulster titles during his time with the county’s senior footballers, in 1972 and 1974.

Monaghan was named man of the match in the 1974 provincial final replay win against Down and later won an All-Star that year. His son Barry then later continued the family tradition by playing for Donegal.

John Corcoran (Cork)

The former Cork senior football selector passed away suddenly in January and was involved with the Rebels between 2005 and 2007.

Billy Quinn (Tipperary)

A minor All-Ireland and National League winner with the Premier County, Quinn, the father of former Ireland soccer international Niall, died in January at the age of 80.

Gerry O’Malley (Roscommon)

A man who had a remarkable inter-county football career, representing Roscommon from 1947 to 1964, O’Malley is considered to be one of the best players never to have won an All-Ireland. He passed away towards the start of this year at 87 years old.

Peter Turley (Down)

The former Down footballer, from the Saval club outside Newry, passed away this year at the tender age of 33.

DJ Crowley (Kerry)

A two-time senior All-Ireland winner, Crowley is well-known for scoring what was described as the ‘goal of the century’ in the 1970 All-Ireland final.

Rathmore’s Den Joe played for the Kingdom from 1967 to 1971 and he passed away in February.

Peter Quinn (Mayo)

One of the last survivors from Mayo’s 1950 and 1951 All-Ireland-winning teams, Fr Quinn passed away earlier this year at the age of 91.

Paddy Donohoe (Cavan)

A former treasurer, chairman and president of the Cavan county board, Donohoe was laid to rest in April.

Ciara Ryan (Wexford)

The talented 14-year-old tragically passed away in April after collapsing during a Gaelic football match in Gorey, Co Wexford.

Ciara was a keen athlete and played with Kilanerin, Ballyfad GAA Club’s underage setup.

Jack Boothman (Wicklow)

The GAA mourned the death of former president Boothman in May.

The Blessington man was the first Protestant to preside over the organisation when he was elected in 1994.

Source: INPHO

John Horgan (Cork)

The former hurling All-Ireland winner passed away in June with four Liam MacCarthy Cup wins to his name — 1970, 1976, 1977 and 1978.

Jim Forbes (Cork)

Popular Cork GAA official Forbes died in June. He was the chairman of the Cork county board from 2003 to 2005 and served in numerous another administrative roles.

Mick Finucane (Kerry)

Finucane, the last playing link to the famous Polo Grounds All-Ireland final in 1947, passed away in July.

The Ballydonoghue man played five times for the Kingdom, including a substitute appearance in the New York defeat to Cavan.

Michael ‘Ducksy’ Walsh (Kilkenny)

The legendary handballer died at just 50 years of age on 4 August.

The Kilkenny native was a multiple All-Ireland winner, winning a remarkable 38 national senior titles.

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

Greg Maher (Mayo)

Maher, a member of Mayo’s 1989 All-Ireland final team, passed away in September after a long illness.

He played at right-half forward on the Mayo side that went down to Cork by 0-17 to 1-11.

Mickey ‘Rattler’ Byrne (Tipperary)

A five-time All-Ireland winner, the Thurles Sarsfields legend passed away at the age of 93 in October.

Byrne was part of the Premier County’s victorious sides in 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1958 during a remarkable inter-county and club career.

Mick Dolan (Cork)

Former Cork county board chairman Mick Dolan passed away in November. The Fermoy native also held roles as development officer and vice-chairman of the board during his administrative career.

Joe McCarthy (Cavan)

Former Cavan and Kingscourt footballer Joe McCarthy passed away in November at the age of 43.

McCarthy was also part of the Cavan U21 and senior management teams alongside Terry Hyland and later Peter Reilly.

Joe Lennon (Down)

Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO

The three-time All-Ireland winner, largely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, passed away last month.

Lennon led the Mourne county to All-Ireland glory in 1968 and went on to become a prominent figure in the coaching of Gaelic games for many years.

Danny Murphy (Down)

The former Ulster Council Secretary died from cancer earlier this month and had worked with GAA in the northern province for more than 35 years.

The St Mary’s GAC, Burren clubman served as an administrator at every level of the association and had only stepped down from his role in August due to his health problems.

Brendan Hynes (Galway)

The Ballinasloe native passed away suddenly in September and had been a key GAA enthusiast at home and abroad.

An excellent footballer and hurler, Hynes first emigrated to England and then spent 55 years in the US, winning championships in both countries, and eventually took up an administrative role in New York having represented ‘The Big Apple’ as a player.

Jim Connors (Wicklow)

Former Garden County hurler Connors passed away last month after his three-year battle with motor neurone disease.

The St Patrick’s clubman made his inter-county debut at the age of 18, and was only in his early 30s at the time of his death.

Mick Roche (Tipperary)

The three-time All-Ireland winner died earlier this month at the age of 73.

Roche was a key defender for Tipperary for almost a decade, winning All-Ireland hurling medals in 1964, 1965 and 1967 and was selected on the first All-Star team in 1971.

Joe McDonagh (Galway)

Source: Tom Honan/INPHO

Former GAA president McDonagh was another dedicated administrator mourned by the GAA community this year.

McDonagh also famously sang ‘The West’s Awake’ after winning the All-Ireland hurling title with Galway in 1980, ending a 57-year wait for the county. McDonagh then went on to become president of the GAA from 1997-2000.

Gerry Bennis (Limerick)

The well-known Limerick GAA administrator — he was a former Limerick County Board chairman — passed away in November after a short illness.

Bennis, of the famous Patrickswell family that included the legendary Richie, was a prominent figure in GAA in the Treaty County.

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