James McHugh (62) was driving the car and fatally injured in the collision, involving a car and a van
Tributes have continued to be paid to former Donegal All-Ireland winning footballer James McHugh, who died following a road traffic collision.
The collision, involving a car and a van, occurred on the N3 at Drummallaght in Co Cavan shortly before 2pm on Monday afternoon.
Mr McHugh (62), from Bavin in Kilcar, Co Donegal was driving the car and was fatally injured in the incident and his body was removed to Cavan General Hospital. His wife Noreen, also aged in her 60s, was seriously injured and airlifted to Beaumont Hospital for treatment.
News of James McHugh’s death sent shockwaves through Donegal and the wider GAA community, with tributes pouring in for a man remembered not only for his achievements on the football field but also for his humility, integrity and devotion to his family and community.
Captain of the 1992 All Ireland winning Donegal team Anthony Molloy said he was struggling to find the words to describe the loss of his former teammate and close friend, the Irish Mirror reports.
“It’s hard to find words to say this morning. We are left in total shock and disbelief and there is a dark cloud hanging over Donegal since we heard about James’ death yesterday,” he told News at One on RTE Radio One.
Mr Molloy worked with James in the ESB for many years and later served alongside him when James was a selector with the Donegal county minor team in the mid-1990s.
He described him as a “wonderful footballer” who was both skilful and determined.
“He was a very proud Kilcar clubman along with his brother Martin and later then you had Mark, Ryan and Eoin, who are all synonymous with the success of Kilcar GAA club,” he said.
But for Mr Molloy, it was the friendship they shared away from football that made James’s death particularly difficult.
“A great, great friend of mine for many years, I was so fond of him and we have so many great memories and laughter and battles,” he said.
Mr Molloy said those battles formed part of a chapter in their lives that would never be forgotten.
“When I think back to ’92, I don’t see a cup or the celebrations,” he said. “I just see the faces of the men that shared that journey with me, and James will always be one of those faces for me.”
Former Donegal TD Pat the Cope Gallagher said a “dark cloud” had descended over the county following the news.
“When the news broke yesterday evening of his death, Donegal and the entire GAA community went into mourning, a dark cloud descended over Donegal,” he told RTE Radio One’s News at One.
Mr Gallagher said James remained hugely admired by generations of Donegal supporters, including people who were not even born when Donegal won the All-Ireland in 1992.
“Everybody both young and old, those that weren’t even around in 1992, they’ve watched it time and time again on YouTube and they speak so highly of him,” he said.
“He was a man of the highest integrity. He was above all a husband, father, son and brother, an uncle to all of those who are related to him.”
Mr Gallagher said the people of Donegal would share the grief of the McHugh family if they could.
“The people of Donegal, if they could share the pain of the McHugh family today, they would do that, but unfortunately you cannot share the pain,” he said.
He described James as a hugely respected figure within the GAA and a proud Gael who was fluent in Irish.
“People are devastated,” he said. “People loved James McHugh, they highly regarded him and he was a great Gael. He spoke Irish, he spoke it fluently, he did interviews, he analysed football matches, but above all he was a husband and a father.”
Mr Gallagher extended his condolences to James’s wife Noreen and their children Eoin and Emma.
“My condolences to his wife Noreen and hopefully she will recover fully and his son Eoin and daughter Emma,” he said. “Hopefully James will have joined his late father and mother, Jim and Kathleen.”
Mr McHugh’s funeral details have not yet been announced.
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