A tribute
Seán Rice
THE sorrow engendered by the death of Tony McHugh at the weekend was further deepened in Castlebar by news of the passing of Mick Ruane.
In sports circles both were icons in Mayo… Tony a significant sponsor, Mick a loyal servant of the GAA as a player, supporter and enthusiast.
Mick was an adopted son of the old town, head-hunted by county secretary Johnny Mulvey in an effort to revive the faded fortunes of Mayo football.
The bright cycle of the early fifties had by then run its course. Mick’s was the new generation, inspired by the grand achievements of those who had just hung up their boots.
He was born in Claremorris where his father — a native of Cloonacastle, Ballinrobe — was secretary of Claremorris Bacon Company. Later, after moves to Limerick and Galway, the family settled in Ballaghaderreen . . . where Mick’s father died at the age of 50.
At the local St Nathy’s College, Mick’s natural football talent began to bud. In 1953 he played for the college’s senior team… before he had reached the age of 15.
And when Nathy’s won their only All-Ireland title, in 1957, Mick was their midfield star.
He played minor football for Mayo in 1955 and ’56, and lined out with the county’s senior side for the first time against Sligo in the Connacht championship of 1959. He was 22, and then living in Castlebar, where he took up a post with Telecom and joined the local Mitchels’ club, winning with them county senior medals in 1962 and ’63.
Although an established member of the county’s senior side, Mick was denied a Connacht senior medal by the emergence of three-in-a-row Galway… until 1967.
He was at his best at full forward, strong, clever and resourceful. Many of the great teams of that era regarded him as a most difficult opponent. In the 1966 championship he scored 3-1 against Sligo, and against Leitrim in the 1967 final his tally came to 2-1.
Connacht selectors honoured him on two occasions.
But unlike so many players of the past, Mick Ruane’s service to the GAA did not finish with his playing days. He was a county selector, chairman of the Mitchels in 1970 and ’71, steered the club to a county senior title in 1978, and was manager of McHale Park for some years.
Right up to his illness last year, Mick was deeply involved with the Green & Red Trust, a body established by players of the sixties and seventies offering a helping hand to Mayo footballers down on their luck.
The GAA was his abiding interest. Passing towns, he would stop occasionally to visit pitches on which he had played decades before… re-living a great catch, a great dummy, a great score.
Nor did his illness dim his enthusiasm for the game. Discussion about players long forgotten buoyed him. He would dig deep into a faltering memory, and smile as if in victory when he had recalled a face or a name or an event.
In his hospital bed hours before he died he asked who had been chosen at centre-half back on this writer’s best Mayo team of half a century. He disagreed with one or two of the other selections, but the choice of Morley would have pleased him.
Mick was essentially shy and self-effacing. Simple things, like mowing the lawn, were what he missed most when he first fell ill. But the loss of old friends saddened him too. One by one he had seen death claim Ray Prendergast, John Morley, Paddy Kerrigan, Tommy Coughlan, John Joe Walsh and Fintan Hayes with whom he played golf, and others, and each diminished him a little.
He has joined them now, at the age of 72, and a fair old session has surely begun up there. Down here among us mortals the loss of a great old Gael is being sorely felt.
To Breege, his loyal wife, and to Rachel and Ronan go our deepest sympathy.
Mayo manager pays tribute
JOHN O’Mahony also paid tribute to the late Tony McHugh and Mick Ruane.
“Tony was a life-long supporter of Mayo GAA over the years in victory and defeat,” said the Mayo manager. “He built the magnificent stadium at McHale Park. I spoke with him on the evening of the Mayo Galway national league game and conveyed to him the appreciation of players and management for the facilities.
“To his wife Mary and family I want to wish my deepest sympathy and all involved with the Mayo football team.
“Sincere sympathy to Breege, Ronan and Rachel on the sad passing of Mick Ruane one of Mayo greatest servants as a player, mentor, with the county team and Castlebar Mitchels,” he continued.
“He won a Hogan Cup Medal with St Nathy’s College in Ballaghaderreen in 1957 and had close association with the college and Ballaghaderreen.
“Mayo teams over the years were catered for after training by Breege in her restaurant on Main Street. Mick oversaw the preparation of McHale Park for all the championship and league matches over the years and had it in immaculate condition.
“It is ironic that two great servants of Mayo, one who built the stadium and the other who oversaw the pitch, passed away within 24 hours of each other. I have no doubt that they will be guiding us from above in next Sunday’s league final,” he concluded.
All-Ireland winner dies
MEANWHILE, Mayo football lost another of its great servants yesterday (Monday) after the death of John Forde from Ardnaree, an All-Ireland winner in 1950 and 1951. We will pay tribute to John in next week’s Mayo News. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
