Saddened to learn of the passing of former GAA President Joe McDonagh.
The West's Asleep.
RIP, Joe

liner (Mayo) - Posts: 756 - 21/05/2016 11:58:27    1856977

RIP Joe. He will be remembered for a long time for that rendition of the wests awake after the 1980 AI final. Emotional stuff just thinking of it.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 21/05/2016 12:13:53    1856982

Very sorry to hear of the untimely death of Joe Mc Donagh. Like many people I remember Joe's rousing rendition of The West's Awake, after the 1980 All Ireland Final. Truly a remarkable moment. My sympathy to his family, and all Galway people.
May he rest in peace.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1741 - 21/05/2016 12:48:04    1856992

R I P Joe,a great G A A man,I was in the upper deck of the Cusack in 1980,I will never forget the speech and Joes singing,it was a special day for Galway

mooncat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 533 - 21/05/2016 12:58:02    1856999

Very very sad. That video of him on the steps singing the wests awake is iconic. RIP

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 21/05/2016 13:04:36    1857000

RIP

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4223 - 21/05/2016 15:26:30    1857020

So young.Sad day for Galway and the wider GAA family.The West is Awake,but one of their legends is sleeping in peace.RIP.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 21/05/2016 15:41:32    1857026

Ar dheis De

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1669 - 21/05/2016 15:52:42    1857029

Had the pleasure of meeting Mr McDonagh he came to our clubs prize giving after we won the Antrim JHC many many moons ago. He shared the billing with a Mr Brolly but everyone was talking about one person after the speeches. A humble, amiable gent and my condolences go out to his family and the wider Galway gaa family, a role model and inspiration if ever there was one.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 21/05/2016 17:38:28    1857057

Sad to hear.

I had no idea he came from the football part of Galway either.

He went full circle in the GAA from winning an all ireland for the Galway hurlers after a 57 year wait to handed Sam Maguire to the footballers after a 32 year wait.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 21/05/2016 21:34:00    1857139

I was very sad to hear this news yesterday.Joe was a great right half back on the Galway team that won the league in 75 beating Tipp in an epic final I will always remember as it was the first time I saw Galway hurlers winning a trophy.
He was captain in 79 when they beat 4 in a row chasing Cork in the semi and had no luck in the final against Kilkenny.
He will always be fondly remembered for his rousing rendition of the Wests Awake after we finally broke the hoodoo in 1980.
God be good to him a true Galway and GAA hero and gentleman.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 22/05/2016 15:52:18    1857338

A legend in Galway, so sad to see him pass away. Seeing him sing the West awake along side the Galway greats winning the All Ireland and also in 98 handing Sam to Ray Silke, great Galway memories. A great football man as well with Cortoon Shamrocks. Rip Joe

Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 23/05/2016 08:32:18    1857566

Was the president when I was in national school and he came one time to visit the school. All I remember was this smiling, happy character who enjoyed the company of the kids and talked very warmly about the GAA in Donegal. A lovely man from my childhood memory of him. RIP

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 23/05/2016 08:53:19    1857574