Funeral details announced for Garrymore GAA stalwart Bertie McHugh

FUNERAL details have been announced for the late Garrymore GAA Club stalwart Bertie McHugh.

Tributes have been paid to Bertie for his lifelong service to the club, with former Garrymore footballer Billy Fitzpatrick describing him as ‘Mr Garrymore’.

Garrymore GAA Club have issued a statement on social media expressing their sympathies with the McHugh family. 

“Bertie was ever present on match days and rarely missed a Club or County game, home or away,” Garrymore GAA stated. 

Having served as the club’s secretary from the age of 17, Bertie emigrated to America to work in construction where he became heavily involved in the GAA in New York. 

He later became secretary of New York GAA and was instrumental in fundraising for the Exiles Cup, a highly successful tournament hosted in South Mayo from 1963 to 2013. 

When he returned home, he managed the Garrymore team that won the 1969 Intermediate championship which saw the club gain senior status. 

He was heavily involved in the development of the club’s facilities throughout the 1970s and 1980s and was given the honour of officially opening the club’s new car park in 2022. 

He was inducted into the Mayo News Sport Hall of Fame in January 2020.

He will repose at St Colman’s Funeral Home, Lower James Street, Claremorris (F12 R3W8) on Monday evening January 15 from 5 o’clock until 7 o’clock.

Removal from his residence will take place on Tuesday morning to arrive at 12 noon in St Colman’s Church, Claremorris with burial afterwards in St Colman’s cemetery.

He is predeceased by his parents Delia and Tom, infant son Bernard, brothers and sisters John, Mary, Peter, Ita, Tommy, Mick, Paddy, Jimmy and Carmel.

Bertie will be sadly missed by his loving wife Teresa, daughter Mary, sons TJ, Danny, Joe and John, son in law Frank, daughters in law Catherine and Emily, Joe’s fiancée Mara, John’s fiancée Louise, grandchildren Dylan, Dayna, Ella, Charlie, Isobel, Erienne, Conàn, Dwayne, Kalel and Thea, sister Peggy, nephews, nieces, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.