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The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Deep sorrow' – Ulster GAA grieving shock death of ex-president and former Cavan inter-county ace
A nearby county of Cavan's have paid a heartfelt tribute to him HUGE LOSS 'Deep sorrow' – Ulster GAA grieving shock death of ex-president and former Cavan inter-county ace ULSTER GAA have led tributes following the shock death of its former president Oliver Galligan. The ex-Cavan inter-county footballer had served in the role as recently as 2022. According to his post, he passed away surrounded by family at Cavan General Hospital. His funeral is to be held at 1pm on Thursday at the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim. Leading tributes since word of the Kilnavara native's death broke, Ulster GAA issued a statement saluting his "life-long" commitment to all things Gaelic Games across his province. It read: "It is with deep sorrow and profound shock that Ulster GAA mourns the loss of our esteemed colleague and friend, former Uachtarán Comhairle Uladh, Oliver Galligan. "Oliver served as 37th President of the Ulster Council GAA from 2019-2022, and was currently a valued member of the Casement Park Stadium Board. "He was also a member of the Croke Park Stadium Board and the Central Competitions Control Committee. "A life-long member of the Cavan Gaels club in county Cavan, Oliver enjoyed a long and successful career at club level playing at senior level for 17 years and winning three county titles. "He represented Cavan at all levels, captaining the county to the Ulster minor title in 1967 and playing senior inter-county with Cavan from 1969 to 1973. "A former chairman of his club and a member of Cavan County Board for 15 years, Oliver was the county's Development Officer and then Ulster Council representative before being first elected as an Officer to the Ulster Council in 2010. "He went on to serve with great distinction and dedication as PRO, Treasurer, Vice-President and finally President. "He also held numerous roles over the years on national committees and workgroups, as well as being a member of the Project Steering Group for the Casement Park Project. Henry Shefflin among GAA stars at Oasis gigs where Man City tradition made its Croke Park debut "Ulster GAA expresses profound sorrow at Oliver's passing and we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Frances, his sons John and Oliver (Jnr), his daughter Elaine (Peter), and the wider Galligan family circle during this time of great loss. "We remember also his colleagues at Cavan Gaels and in Cavan GAA. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all." Cavan's Ulster compatriots Tyrone have expressed their condolences in a nice show of solidarity. The Red Hand county board posted: "Like the rest of Ulster, Ireland, and beyond, Gaelic Tyrone is deeply saddened and diminished by the death of Oliver Galligan. 1 He guided Ulster GAA through the turbulent times of the Covid-19 pandemic Credit: @UlsterGAA "As the then Ulster GAA Chair, Oliver helped guide us all through the totally unprecedented COVID pandemic, and apart from that unique and very successful role, he was always for us in Tyrone a hard-working GAA guide, mentor, and colleague of integrity, decency, class, and style. "Oliver took on virtually every strategic Club and County GAA role possible in his beloved Cavan, and also served us all so well in a number of national GAA roles. "'Na caoin deor ar m'imeacht, ach cuimhnigh mar a bhí mé | Do not mourn my departure, but remember me as I was.' "Our deepest sympathy goes to Oliver's family, to his many friends, neighbours and colleagues, and to the Gaels of Cavan town and Cavan county. "'I measc Naomh na hÉireann agus Laochra na nGael go raibh sé | May he be among the Saints of Ireland and the Heroes of the Gael.'"
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Gordon Lyons to attend first GAA match as Stormont Communities Minister
Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is to attend his first GAA match in the role this weekend. The DUP MLA, who has sport in his ministerial portfolio, has been criticised for not attending a senior-level GAA match. On Thursday it was confirmed that Mr Lyons will attend a match after an invitation from the Ulster Council of the GAA last week. Earlier this year, he pledged to attend a GAA match in 2025. During a visit to Washington DC in March, Mr Lyons said: 'I would like to make the point that I have been to GAA clubs, have been to GAA events, have met with the GAA.' The move comes as a key funding decision on the redevelopment of the former GAA ground Casement Park in west Belfast is expected. While the Assembly, the GAA and the Irish Government have all pledged money towards the project, the UK Government is expected to announce next month what funding it will provide after a Treasury spending review. Mr Lyons will not be the first DUP politician to go to a GAA match, after then party leader Arlene Foster attended an Ulster final with then MLA Christopher Stalford in 2018. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and former communities minister and current Education Minister Paul Givan have also tried their hands at camogie, Gaelic football and hurling. A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said: 'The minister will be attending a GAA game on Saturday following an invitation from the UCGAA last week. 'The minister is committed to supporting all sporting communities across Northern Ireland.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gordon Lyons to attend first GAA match as Stormont Communities Minister
Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is to attend his first GAA match in the role this weekend. The DUP MLA, who has sport in his ministerial portfolio, has been criticised for not attending a senior-level GAA match. On Thursday it was confirmed that Mr Lyons will attend a match after an invitation from the Ulster Council of the GAA last week. Earlier this year, he pledged to attend a GAA match in 2025. During a visit to Washington DC in March, Mr Lyons said: 'I would like to make the point that I have been to GAA clubs, have been to GAA events, have met with the GAA.' The move comes as a key funding decision on the redevelopment of the former GAA ground Casement Park in west Belfast is expected. While the Assembly, the GAA and the Irish Government have all pledged money towards the project, the UK Government is expected to announce next month what funding it will provide after a Treasury spending review. Mr Lyons will not be the first DUP politician to go to a GAA match, after then party leader Arlene Foster attended an Ulster final with then MLA Christopher Stalford in 2018. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and former communities minister and current Education Minister Paul Givan have also tried their hands at camogie, Gaelic football and hurling. A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said: 'The minister will be attending a GAA game on Saturday following an invitation from the UCGAA last week. 'The minister is committed to supporting all sporting communities across Northern Ireland.'
BreakingNews.ie
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Gordon Lyons to attend first GAA match as Stormont Communities Minister
Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is to attend his first GAA match in the role this weekend. The DUP MLA, who has sport in his ministerial portfolio, has been criticised for not attending a senior-level GAA match. Advertisement On Thursday it was confirmed that Mr Lyons will attend a match after an invitation from the Ulster Council of the GAA last week. Earlier this year, he pledged to attend a GAA match in 2025. During a visit to Washington DC in March, Mr Lyons said: 'I would like to make the point that I have been to GAA clubs, have been to GAA events, have met with the GAA.' The move comes as a key funding decision on the redevelopment of the former GAA ground Casement Park in west Belfast is expected. Advertisement While the Assembly, the GAA and the Irish Government have all pledged money towards the project, the UK Government is expected to announce next month what funding it will provide after a Treasury spending review. Mr Lyons will not be the first DUP politician to go to a GAA match, after then party leader Arlene Foster attended an Ulster final with then MLA Christopher Stalford in 2018. First Minister Michelle O'Neill (centre), deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (right) and junior minister Aisling Reilly (left) during a visit to St Paul's GAA club in west Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and former communities minister and current Education Minister Paul Givan have also tried their hands at camogie, Gaelic football and hurling. A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said: 'The minister will be attending a GAA game on Saturday following an invitation from the UCGAA last week. Advertisement 'The minister is committed to supporting all sporting communities across Northern Ireland.'
Irish Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Antrim stalwart says Corrigan Park stance proved to be worthwhile
Antrim's 'Corrigan or nowhere' stance helped to galvanise the county, long-serving footballer Dermot McAleese has said. Although ultimately defeat was their lot against All-Ireland champions Armagh in last month's Ulster quarter-final, the Ulster Council bending to the players' refusal to play the tie in Newry was a victory of sorts and shone further spotlight on the ongoing farce around the Casement Park rebuild. 'It probably did create a bit more of a buzz about the county,' said McAleese. 'Probably for us, it was about the home game but it was also about highlighting the fact that we don't have a proper county ground, and haven't had a proper county ground with the absence of Casement. 'And I think Antrim Gaels deserve that, Ulster Gaels deserve that, and it was good to see a swell of support for that. 'I know there was a march on the morning of the game from Casement and there were thousands at it, so it was a good opportunity to highlight that, the fact we need Casement built.' As for the game itself, Antrim performed well and led at half-time before being swamped, but it gives them something to carry into Sunday's Tailteann Cup opener away to Westmeath. 'It was a good performance, we emerged with a lot of credit from that game, really went at them in the first half, our target was to be brave against them and I think we did that. 'We are probably disappointed with how the second half went, I think their strength-in-depth probably told and we aren't playing at that level every week. 'So, they sort of pushed on the second half, but we can take a lot of a lot out of that game, a lot of confidence from it and it's really something to build on for the Tailteann Cup,' McAleese added.
