Tributes for 'giant of gaelic football' Eugene McGee

Eugene McGee, the former manager of Offaly football team, has died.

Mr McGee, who was in his late seventies, passed away in the early hours of this morning.

He led Offaly to an All-Ireland win in 1982 when they denied Kerry five in a row in one of the most famous finals in history.

The Longford native was also a former journalist with the Sunday Tribune and Irish Independent, and later managing director of the Longford Leader.

He also served as the chair of the Football Review Committee.

Mr McGee is mourned by his wife Marian, daughter Linda and son Conor.

Since the news, tributes have flooded in.

Offaly GAA said that McGee's death had "left the GAA world in mourning".

The sudden passing of former 1982 Offaly football manager Eugene McGee has left the GAA world in mourning. To his wife Marian, son Conor, daughter Linda goes our heartfelt sympathy. Ar dheis Dé go raibh ainm Dilis https://t.co/vcgrptiPkI pic.twitter.com/fpmjguBhTr

— Official Offaly GAA (@Offaly_GAA) May 5, 2019

McGee's home county, Longford, said that he "epitomised all that is good in the GAA and was also a great voice for rural Ireland".

Longford GAA wish to express our deepest sympathies to Marian, Conor & Linda, the extended families and his native Club Colmcille on the sudden and sad passing of Eugene McGee.
Eugene epitomised all that is good in the GAA and was also a great voice for rural Ireland. RIP

— Longford GAA (@OfficialLDGAA) May 5, 2019

Richie O'Connor, who captained the famous Offaly side in 1982 said it was "a complete surprise" and "a sad loss."

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, O'Connor said Offaly were "lucky to have him" praising his dedication to the sport and how helpful he was to players.

'We were lucky to have him' - 1982 @Offaly_GAA winning captain Richie Connor pays tribute to Eugene McGee with @colmanos @rtenews #rtesport #rtegaa #EugeneMcGee pic.twitter.com/GmDM9HSX3H

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 5, 2019

GAA President John Horan paid tribute to McGee saying he "a giant of gaelic football".

Mr Horan said: "Like Mick O’Dwyer and Kevin Heffernan, with whom he shared so many sideline battle of wits, Eugene was considered a man ahead of his time and responsible for creating a new era of popularity for the game in the 70s and 80s.

“A straight-talking man of great integrity, Eugene was a hugely respected journalist and author and his passion for the game always shone through.

“The GAA benefitted greatly from this passion through his work on the field, and also through his commitment off it where Eugene was instrumental in helping to aid the evolvement of Gaelic football and was a former Chairman of a Football Review Committee.

RTÉ Sport's Des Cahill shared a story told to him by former TD Tom Parlon in tribute.

"On the morning of the 82 All Ireland a journalist asked Eugene how badly #Offaly wanted to win.

"He replied 'there's men in that dressing room who haven't had a pint since last Wednesday night!'"

A wonderful way to remember #EugeneMcGee - just told this by Tom Parlon.
On the morning of the 82 All Ireland a journalist asked Eugene how badly #Offaly wanted to win. He replied "there's men in that dressing room who haven't had a pint since last Wednesday night! #RIPEugene pic.twitter.com/XH8KddJYdD

— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) May 5, 2019

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan hailed McGee as a man who "always enjoyed a robust and full blooded argument".

The death of Eugene McGee is sad news. He always enjoyed a robust & full blooded argument & never pulled back. Made a great contribution to @officialgaa & wider public affairs. R.I.P. https://t.co/gg5hcGMUgT

— Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) May 5, 2019

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin praised McGee as "a man of courage and integrity who gave so much to his community".

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the late Eugene McGee-a man of courage and integrity who gave so much to his community,to journalism and to Gaelic Games.

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) May 5, 2019

Many more from the GAA community have taken to Twitter to share their memories of McGee and pay tribute to the manager.

Very sad to hear of the passing of Eugene Mc Gee. A great GAA man, Manager of an Historic Offaly All Ireland 1982 side, a brilliant journalist & a man that never ever refused me an interview . An all round good guy. My sympathies to his family and friends .

— Marty Morrissey (@MartyMofficial) May 5, 2019

Offaly flag at half mast at Faithful Fields as a mark of respect to Eugene McGee. RIP pic.twitter.com/ggEoMLV12g

— Will O'Callaghan (@willocallaghan) May 5, 2019

Eugene McGee cared so deeply about Gaelic football. For such a matter of fact man, the tears fell freely from his face when the black card was adopted at Congress in Derry in 2013. In print and on pitch, he has done football good. His legacy is rich. May he rest in peace. #GAA

— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) May 5, 2019

Sad to hear of the death of Eugene McGee - the man who guided Offaly to Sam in 1982, stopping Kerry’s 5-in-row attempt - but who also did some much more for the GAA.

Ar dheis dé go raibh a anam. pic.twitter.com/OTZ5uPv9OA

— sportsfile (@sportsfile) May 5, 2019

Shocked to hear of the death of Eugene McGee. Worked with him many times on radio and television and enjoyed his company and insight enormously. Rightly known as a great GAA man for his successes as a manager but also as a fantastic journalist, both at local and national level.

— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) May 5, 2019

Ar dheis dé go raibh a anam.

This story was updated at 4pm.