Tributes flow for ‘outstanding’ Dan Hoare

Tributes flow for ‘outstanding’ Dan Hoare

Former Cork and Munster Treasurer Dan Hoare whose death has occurred, had only taken over as President of the County Board at the annual convention on December 14.

Among the many to pay tribute to him yesterday — when he was honoured with a minute’s silence before the Cork/Dublin NFL game in Páirc Uí Rinn — was Pearse Murphy, who succeeded him as the county’s treasurer in November 1996.

They were long-time colleagues in the Revenue Commissioners and in county board administration in Cork. “Dan was an outstanding individual who gave tremendous service to the Association. Forthright in his views, he was totally committed to the GAA and its ideals. And he was a great family man,” he commented.

A native of Conna in East Cork, he became secretary of the St. Catherines’ club at a young age. After a spell working in Waterford, he returned to Cork and was a County Board delegate and a member of the GPC (General Purposes Committee) before being elected Treasurer for a nine-year period.

He served in this position from 1987 to 1996, subsequently serving served as Munster Council treasurer from 2001 to 2005 and on national committees in Croke Park.

County Secretary Frank Murphy described his death as ‘very sad news,’ saying Mr Hoare had given ‘monumental’ service to the Association at club, county, provincial and national level.

“He was a man of very generous character, who was always available to assist people in any difficulty, in any walk of life,” he commented.

“All his life he was devoted to St. Catherine’s, and while his club was one of the main elements of his life, he also had a great interest in golf.

“He was a very talented golfer and he served as President of Cork Golf Club, giving him the unique distinction of being President of the Board and President of the golf club. He will be an enormous loss to his family, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy on behalf of the County Board and his many comrades in the GAA and Cork Golf Club.”

Current County Board Chairman Ger Lane, who took over the same day as Mr Hoare was selected as President, also joined in the tributes. “Dan was a wonderful servant of the GAA and was known as a great man for the players. He always got on well with county teams over the years.

“He was always devoted to St. Catherine’s and it gave him great satisfaction to see the club rise from junior ‘A’ to the senior grade.”

Jerry O’Sullivan, currently vice-chairman of the Munster Council and a former Cork chairman praised him for the lifetime of service he had given to the GAA at all levels, pointing out that at one stage he actually represented the Cloyne club at the County Board.

“He absolutely loved the GAA. All that mattered to him was his family and the GAA,” he said.

Predeceased by his wife Mary, Mr Hoare is survived by his sons Martin, Emmett, Pádraig (a reporter with the ‘Evening Echo’) and his daughter Fiona.