Glowing tributes to late Roscommon GAA great Adrian O'Sullivan
The late Adrian O'Sullivan is lifted shoulder-high by his Roscommon team-mates after captaining the Rossies to the 1972 Connacht senior football title.
Roscommon GAA is mourning the passing of a unique player, Adrian O’Sullivan, who was laid to rest on Tuesday in his native Castlerea.
Mr O'Sullivan passed away peacefully on Thursday last in the loving care of the staff at Abbey Haven Nursing Home in Boyle.
The former Castlerea St. Kevin’s clubman is the only player in the county’s history to have captained Roscommon to Connacht minor, U-21 and senior football titles in 1965, 1969 and 1972 respectively.
Regarded as a brilliant player when he lined out at centre-back or midfield for the county, Mr O’Sullivan also enjoyed success with his native Castlerea St. Kevin’s, winning county senior football championships with the West Roscommon club in 1967, 1968, 1971 and 1973.
He also won county juvenile championships with Castlerea in 1960 and 1962, alongside minor championships in 1963, 1964 and 1965, and a U-21 title in 1968.
He also played Railway Cup for Connacht in 1970, 1971 and 1972.
Castlerea St. Kevin’s stalwart, Danny Burke, paid tribute to Mr O’Sullivan, a player he took under his wing in Castlerea at juvenile level.
Danny was also a selector on the Roscommon minor and U-21 teams that O’Sullivan captained to provincial glory in 1965 and 1968.
“Gerry O’Malley once told me that Adrian was the greatest centre-back that had seen playing when he retired. That was a fair compliment coming from Gerry O’Malley.
“He was a very talented player, and he always gave it everything for his club and county,” Danny told the
On behalf of Roscommon GAA, Chairperson, Brian Carroll, extended his deepest sympathy to his family, and said the GAA community was deeply saddened to hear of his passing.
Adrian was remembered during a minutes silence prior to last Sunday’s Senior Football Championship Final at Dr. Hyde Park.
The late Adrian O’Sullivan is predeceased by his parents Padraic and Emily, brother Micheál and sister-in-law Kay.
He will be sadly missed by his brother Declan, sister Mary, sisters-in-law Anita and Karen, adored nieces Clare and Caroline, grandniece, grandnephews, cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends.
