A Longford GAA club has been left devastated by the passing of one of its brightest prospects.

Clonguish GAA has led the tributes to Andrew Jackson who passed away on Monday at the age of 19. Recently predeceased by his father Walter, the U16 and MFC winner will be sadly missed by his mother Mary, sister Ella, grandparents Walter and Betty Jackson, extended family and friends. He will be laid to rest in Ballymacormack Cemetery following Funeral Mass at St Mel's Cathedral, Longford on Friday morning.

In a heartfelt tribute on social media, Andrew's club said: "Everyone involved with Clonguish GAA is absolutely heartbroken at the tragic passing of Andrew Jackson. Andrew lined out at corner back on the Clonguish Óg minor team that won the club’s first Minor A Championship for 18 years. Andrew stuck to has task ably that day in the way he always did.

"He always put his teammates and others before himself. When the time came to make the step up to adult level Andrew took to junior football like a duck to water. Finding a new position in the full forward line, he scored three points from play against Kenagh in his first adult game for the club.

"Andrew was a fantastic young man on and off the pitch as was shown when he and three friends cycled 155km from Longford to Dun Briste in Co. Mayo in order to raise funds for Longford Hospice, Palliative Care Unit. Their tremendous efforts were rewarded as they raised €8,850. Andrew won titles with Clonguish from U12 all the way to Minor and epitomised everything that it means to be a GAA member.

"We offer our deepest sympathies to Andrew’s mother Mary, his sister Ella, his extended family and his extremely wide circle of friends.

"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam."

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