Sadness at passing of former Mayo GAA president
The late Bertie McHugh, left, with 1969 Garrymore intermediate captain Brian Healy.
Tributes have been paid to former Mayo GAA president Bertie McHugh whose death was announced on Saturday.
Bertie, from Brookhill, was synonymous with Garrymore GAA Club with whom he held numerous positions over the years, including team management, administration and community improvement projects within the locality.
Indeed his service to the club stretched back all the way to the 1950s when he not only played for the club’s then junior team but became secretary aged just 17 prior to emigrating to the USA in 1961.
It was while there that his brother, Tom, who had replaced him as club secretary, wrote in 1963 to inform him of the club’s intention to run an annual football tournament at Easter. Bertie fundraised towards the purchase of a cup, which would be known as ‘Exiles Cup’ – a famous tournament that ran for an incredible 50 years until 2013.
“He returned home from America and led Garrymore to Mayo intermediate football championship glory in 1969 and we have remained a senior club ever since,” said Garrymore GAA Club in a statement. Bertie’s son Danny is the current chairperson of Garrymore GAA.
Bertie McHugh was also instrumental in the development of the club’s pitch and clubhouse throughout the 1970s and 80s and all the while, was ever present on match days.
“He was a lifelong supporter of Mayo GAA and rarely missed a game,” Mayo County Board said in a statement last night. “All at Mayo GAA would like to express our sincere condolences to the McHugh family.”
Bertie will be sadly missed by his family, his loving wife Teresa, daughter Mary, sons TJ, Danny, Joe and John, and his sister Peggy, along with a wide circle of in-laws, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
He is predeceased by his parents Tom and Delia, infant son Bernard, brothers John Peter, Tommy, Mick, Paddy and Jimmy, and sisters Mary, Ita and Carmel.
Bertie will repose at St Colman's Funeral Home, Claremorris on Monday from 5pm until 7pm. Removal from his residence is on Tuesday morning to arrive for Funeral mass at 12 noon in St Colman's Church, Claremorris with burial afterwards in St Colman's cemetery.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis
