'Profound sadness' at death of Mayo hurling legend
Westport GAA pays tribute to hurling legend Jim Hogan who passed away suddenly in his home
Westport GAA club have expressed 'deep regret and profound sadness' following the sudden death of Jim Hogan, a hurling legend in the club.
A proud native of Templederry, in north Tipperary, Jim Hogan passed away suddenly in his home at the Quay in Westport on Tuesday morning not long after his adopted county of Mayo won the All-Ireland for the first time in 75 years.
Jim and his wife Rita, a native of Co Longford, made Westport their home in the late 1970s and since moving west, he has worked tirelessly to revive hurling in west Mayo. He took immense pride when he watched his son James and a number of young hurlers come together and win the prestigious U-14 Féile competition in Wexford in 1997.
A proud Tipperary man he was never happier than seeing the Premier County win the Liam McCarthy Cup but was as happy as any Mayo man when Jack Coyne lifted the Sam Maguire on Sunday afternoon.
Westport GAA paid tribute to Jim on the club's Facebook page after hearing of the sad news that Jim had passed away.
“It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we learn of the passing of Westport GAA hurling club legend, Jim Hogan,” the club wrote.
“A true giant of Westport hurling, Jim dedicated countless decades of his life to the club he loved. He coached and managed teams at every underage level, nurturing generations of young players with endless patience, encouragement and wisdom before going on to make an equally invaluable contribution at senior level. His unwavering commitment, generous sponsorship and quiet words of advice left an enduring mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him.
“No task was ever beneath Jim. Whether it was coaching a team, lining a pitch, lending a hand behind the scenes or offering support whenever it was needed, he simply rolled up his sleeves and got on with the job. His dedication, humility and selflessness embodied everything that is best about the GAA and our local community.
“A proud Tipperary native, Jim devoted so much of his life to promoting and growing the game of hurling in Westport. There were few sights more familiar than Jim making his way to St Patrick's GAA Park with a bag full of hurls and sliotars, eager to pass on his love and knowledge of the game to the next generation. His passion was infectious, his commitment unwavering and his legacy will continue to live on in every young hurler who had the privilege of learning from him.
“Jim Hogan's contribution to Westport GAA cannot be measured simply by matches won or trophies lifted. His greatest achievement was the countless lives he touched, the friendships he forged and the enduring love of hurling he inspired. He will be remembered with immense affection, gratitude and respect, and his legacy will remain woven into the fabric of Westport GAA for generations to come.”
Jim first arrived in Westport in the early 1970s while doing a hotel management course with Jurys and after spending time in Dublin he moved west to take over the running of a pub in 1978.
After many years running pubs in Westport, Jim started driving vans and set up Jim Hogan Couriers which thrived for over 20 years. His vans were a common sight on the roads around the west of Ireland but following health scares the company wound down last September.
Jim is survived by his wife Rita, daughters Sharon and Gemma and his son James and his extended family and friends.
He will be reposing in Navin’s Funeral Home, Westport on Thursday evening, July 30 from 5pm until 6.30pm with the funeral arriving to St Mary’s Church, Westport on Friday morning at 10.30am for Funeral Mass at 11am with burial immediately afterwards in Aughavale Cemetery.