‘A true blue, a great Gael’ - Dave Billings passes away suddenly

Tributes pour in for former Dublin selector and UCD GAA stalwart

Former Dublin selector Dave Billings sadly passed away on Tuesday night. Photo: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Former Dublin selector Dave Billings sadly passed away on Tuesday night. Photo: Donall Farmer/Inpho

Few with any connection to third level GAA or gaelic games in any capacity in the capital won't have come across Dave Billings.

The former Dublin player, manager, selector turned UCD Gaelic Games executive passed away suddenly on Tuesday night - with touching tributes pouring in throughout the morning.

The former Dublin hurler and footballer won a senior All-Ireland football medal in 1974 and was later involved in the management set-ups for both codes.

In recent times though Billings will be remembered as being the epicentre of UCD GAA, an ever present in Belfield his energy and determination facilitated a litany of intercounty players’ development - of which many have expressed their gratidute and sadness.

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Among the many tributes former Dublin and UCD player Jason Sherlock describes Billings as "a true blue, a great Gael", while current Dublin and UCD footballer Jack McCaffrey aptly summed up an "immeasurable loss".

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue is a former Irish Times journalist