The Late Denis Hanrahan It is difficult to express in mere words the sense of sadness and loss that the tragic death of Eastern Board Secretary Denis Hanrahan had had on the GAA fraternity the length and breath of our county and indeed beyond. A part of the Association itself has died with Dinny's passing. Avoid has been created that can never be adequately filled. His loss to his family, his friends, and the GAA collectively is incalculable. For close enough to a quarter of a century he occupied the key post of secretary of the Eastern Board. An officer so overwhelmingly honourable and efficient that so some he was seen and regarded as a "one off". On a personal level I can say with hand on heart that in all my years of friendship and involvement with the genial Clonea Power naive I had never known him to utter an offensive or derogatory word. Yes, he could, and would, be firm in his views and beliefs and he never fought shy of coming forward to voice what his sincerely self opinions were. But there was never time on his part for vitriol, for heated argument, or for expression of offence to another person. On the score of gentlemanliness he came through with a marking of "ten out of ten". Wherever and whenever he represented the County Board at official functions, at home or away, he did so in a manner that made one proud to be Waterfordian. His heart, his soul, every fibre in his body was encompassed within the GAA, and the countless hours that he gave to advancing its cause represent the real Denis Harahan.The circumstances surrounding his death are not for me to comment on, other than to say that some elements of the tabloid press fed off them in a frenzied and nauseating way. For me Denis was the very essence of honour ability and integrity, and whatever it was that ensnared him in the financial matters that ultimately had at least some direct involvement in his tragic passing it cannot, and will not, take from his absolute honesty in his day to day living. They came no finer than Dinny Hanrahan, a man I have been privileged to know and to have befriended for as long as I have. He is owed the most monumental debt of gratitude by the GAA in his county of ours, and more particularly by an East Divisional Board he served so impeccably and so superbly well over all those years. They came from far and near to the town of Portlaw and again on Saturday to pay their final respects. It was no more that this most gentle of human beings deserved. The GAA in his native county has lost a true and valued stalwart while countless others have lost a dear and very special friend. To all member of his heartbroken family and sincere sympathy of both the column and columnist are extended . Go ndeine Dia trocaire ar an anam dilis. Courtesy of the Waterford News & Stars 2th May 2008 Tweet

Most Read Stories