President Catherine Connolly leads tributes to ‘fantastic GAA player’ Paul Clancy as funeral details announced
President Catherine Connolly has paid tribute to former Galway footballer Paul Clancy as a “fantastic GAA player”.
Mr Clancy will be laid to rest in Moycullen this Friday. He died on June 22 at the age of 49 after an illness.
President Connolly said: “As President of Ireland, may I join with all of those who have expressed such sadness on learning of the death of Paul Clancy.
“Paul will be remembered as a fantastic GAA player, winning two All-Ireland senior football championships and five Connacht titles with Galway, as well as being a driving force behind the Maigh Cuilinn club, playing as they won the 2008 All-Ireland Intermediate title and then serving as chairperson as the club won their first ever Galway senior football championship in 2020.
“May I express my deepest sympathies to Paul’s wife Johanna, his children Ellen and Finn, his mother Mary, and to all of his extended family, friends, teammates and supporters throughout Maigh Cuilinn, Galway and beyond.”
The two-time All-Ireland winner will be reposing at the O’Flaherty Funeral Parlour, Munster Avenue, Galway, on Thursday June 25, from 3pm to 7pm. Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Friday June 26, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Moycullen, at 12pm. Following Mass, Clancy will be laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard.
Clancy won GAA titles as a player for Galway in 1998 and 2001 and later served as the senior manager and chairperson for Maigh Cuilinn.
Tributes in his honour have been pouring in since his passing and a book of condolences has been formally opened in both Galway City and County Council.
“As a footballer, he was hugely skillful, fiercely strong and a very clever player,” Maigh Cuilinn GAA said. “Paul had a genuine love for the game. When he finished playing, he transferred straight into coaching and then club chairman.”
A defining moment in Clancy’s career was his pass to Declan Meehan at the 2000 All-Ireland replay against Kerry, which Galway ended up losing.
“Those things that happen on the big days, you need to have them in your locker. They don’t just come off. I would have been the recipient of those type of passes from him regularly,” Derek Savage, friend of Clancy and former attacking colleague, said.
“He knew if you wanted it in front, he knew if you wanted it over the top. It was instinctive in that instance. He saw the run from Deccie out of the corner of his eye, saw the space and he was able to think so clearly in the moment and execute the pass under pressure. It was quite exceptional.”
With her condolences, newly elected Galway City Mayor Helen Ogbu said: “On behalf of the people of Galway City, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Paul Clancy on his passing, particularly to his wife Johanna, and children, Finn and Ellen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.”
The book of condolences is available for public viewing and contribution, and remains open in person during County and City Hall open hours, as well as online.