Tributes paid to former Roscommon GAA Chairperson who was a ‘man ahead of his time’

Tributes have been paid to former Roscommon GAA Chairperson Michael Fahey — described as a “man ahead of his time” — who passed away earlier on Thursday.

Mr Fahey left a lasting legacy on Gaelic games across County Roscommon, both as a highly respected administrator, coach, and manager.

Mr Fahey was immersed in Roscommon Gaels GAA Club where he played both hurling and football. He was involved in managing both underage and adult teams in the club, while he also served in a variety of different roles on the club’s executive.

With Roscommon GAA, he served as the county board chairperson between 2011 and 2015, having previously served as PRO.

His late father John Joe Fahey was a former Roscommon GAA Secretary. The trophy for the Roscommon Senior Football Championship winners is named after him.

A former principal of Roscommon CBS, he coached numerous successful teams in the school and was highly regarded by the local community. He was manager of the school’s senior football team that won a first Connacht A title in 50 years in 1998 — a team that featured players like Gerry Lohan, Paul Noone and John Hanly who would go on to play with Roscommon.

Paying tribute to the late Mr Fahey, current Roscommon GAA Chairperson, Tom Murray, described him as a “man ahead of his time” with a “great vision” for the county.

“Mick had a great vision for the county. In many ways, he was a man ahead of his time.

“The last strategic plan we did as a county was done under Mick’s watch. We did a root and branch review of all GAA activities in Roscommon in 2013, and he drove that.

“The fact that he saw that Roscommon needed to go about its business differently spoke volumes about him. He wasn’t afraid to make that call. He put a committee in place to look at everything from infrastructure to finance to fixtures.

“A lot of good has come from that, and I think it’s only today that we’re seeing the fruits of Mick’s work.

“You look at the Hyde — the first infrastructure committee was formed under Mick’s watch — and Club Rossie. All the good that we see today is down to his lasting legacy,” said Mr Murray who served as Roscommon GAA Cultural Officer during Mr Fahey’s tenure as chairperson.

Mr Murray was also a pupil in Roscommon CBS during Mr Fahey’s time as Principal.

“He was much more than a teacher. He was a really strong leader in the school. We had some great years from a GAA perspective, and Mick was the cornerstone of that. He left a great legacy there, not just in Roscommon GAA,” he acknowledged.

The late Mick Fahey is survived by his much-loved wife Eileen, daughter Bríana and her partner Rossa, adored grandchildren Aurelia and Lonn, brothers Noel, Gerry and Ollie, sister Maura, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours, former teaching colleagues, past pupils, and by his many friends, especially in the GAA community.

Reposing at Smyth’s Funeral Home, Roscommon on Friday evening, September 18th, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., followed by removal to the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon.

Mass of the Resurrection on Saturday at 11 a.m... Burial afterwards in Kilteevan Cemetery.

Me he Rest In Peace.