It was with great sadness on Wednesday morning that we heard of the sudden and untimely death of our great friend and club member Derek Davis. Big Derek as he was affectionately known was a true gentleman big in heart, big in generosity and friendship to all those who were fortunate to come in contact with him. His association with Glasdrumman and the GAA started when he was selected to be the Glasdrumman Celebrity Bainisteoir. When Derek arrived at Glasdrumman the community took him to their hearts and he fell in love with the community. He was fascinated by the fact that not only was the club at the centre of the community, the club was the community. Derek was proud to tell people that Glasdrumman was his club and was always keen to come up and help the club with anything they wanted to run. We had the privilege each year of being entertained with his own slant on everything that was going on in the Glasdrumman area delivered with his natural wit and humour at our annual presentation night. He loved to spend the night refreshing the many friendships he had made with the people of Glasdrumman on his many visits during the making the Celebrity Bainisteoir program and indeed on his frequent visits over the intervening years.

His brother in law and presenter of The Sunday Game Des Cahill summed it up when he tweeted on Wednesday "I couldn't get Derek Davis excited about #GAA. Until Celebrity Bainisteoir & wow, did he love the Glasdrumman lads!". Derek just seemed to naturally form a great bond with the players which was as fresh and evident on his last visit two weeks ago as it was in 2009 when the Celebrity Bainisteoir competition took place.

We had the privilege of spending time with him two Mondays ago when he came up to support the team, as he did regularly, against Aughlisnafin leaving us with a promise to return soon.

On behalf of the members of Glasdrumman GAC and his many friends we tender our deepest sympathy to his wife Una, his three sons Michael, Colm and Sean and the entire Davis family circle on their sad loss.

Go ndeanai Dia trocaire do a anam uasal dhilis.

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