Galway GAA is in mourning after the death of two-time All-Ireland senior football championship winner Paul Clancy. A key member of Galway’s 1998 and 2001 Sam Maguire winning teams, Clancy died on Monday at the age of 49 following an illness.
The tributes were led by Galway GAA, who remembered Clancy as a driving force for his club, Moycullen, and a committed servant to the county.
“It is with tremendous sadness that we heard about the sad and untimely passing of our former double All-Ireland senior football winning player and Maigh Cuilinn clubman, Paul Clancy.
“Paul enjoyed a stellar sporting career with the Galway senior footballers. He tasted success five times in the Connacht football championship in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005.
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“The crowning glory of his senior football career was the winning of the two All-Ireland senior football titles with Galway in 1998 and 2001; ending a 32-year famine to return the Sam Maguire Cup to the Tribesmen.
“Paul was always readily available to step in and help others on and off the field of play and we are truly indebted to him for his wonderful contribution to the GAA over the past few years.”
Clancy was introduced from the bench late on in the 1998 All-Ireland final victory over Kildare as Galway achieved a first Sam Maguire triumph since 1966.
He started at wing forward in the 2001 final and scored two points as a Pádraic Joyce-inspired Galway beat Meath in the decider. It remains the county’s last All-Ireland football triumph.
Two of his team-mates from those All-Ireland winning teams are directly involved in this weekend’s quarter-finals. Joyce is currently in his seventh season as Galway senior football manager while Kevin Walsh is a coach with the Cork footballers.
Clancy won a Galway intermediate football title with Moycullen in 2007 and added an All-Ireland title at that grade the following February, beating Dublin’s Fingal Ravens in the decider at Croke Park.
A loyal servant to the club, he was Moycullen chairman from 2019 to 2023, overseeing an era of unprecedented success during which they won a first ever Galway senior football championship in 2020.
Moycullen then achieved a maiden senior double in 2022 by winning both the Galway senior title and the Connacht club senior crown.
The club also paid tribute to their former player and chairman: “All at Cumann Peile Mhaigh Cuilinn were deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of Paul Clancy.
“Hailing from the Clancy family, the GAA was in his blood – like his uncles and late father, he was a natural sportsman. His formative years were spent at the pitch honing both his football and hurling skills.
“He first became known in the county colours when he broke on to the star-studded Galway minor team of 1994.
“In 1998, Paul was a key member of a young Galway team who started the season as unknowns and ended as All-Ireland champions. Sadly for the Clancy family, Paul’s father – Pádraic – passed away in the previous year and never got to see Paul win an All-Ireland.”
The club added: “A talisman for the club for years, Paul’s crowning glory was playing a starring role in the 2008 All-Ireland intermediate win, controlling games for centre back.
“Paul is our most decorated player, an inspiration to a generation, remembered for having a sweet left peg, being teak tough and having an unwavering mindset. But beyond the playing pitches he leaves a lasting legacy, he was an icon to so many in our community, so well known, so well respected and always had a word for everyone, a straight shooter with the boot and, if needed, with the lip.
“Calm and assured, reliable and loyal. We think of his wife, Johanna, and children, Ellen and Finn; Paul’s mother, Mary; brother, Gearoid; sisters, Linda & Ailish; and all in the wider Clancy & Fahy families.
“Paul was known as a sportsman, but above all, he was a family man, a great friend and a man we were lucky to have met. Rest easy, a chara, we will miss you more than words can say.”
Clancy was also involved in several coaching roles over the years – including with the Garrycastle club in Westmeath, DIT’s Sigerson Cup team and a selector under Alan Mulholland during his spell as Galway manager.
The Galway senior footballers will face Dublin in an All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park on Sunday, with Clancy set to be remembered on the day.
