The late Michael Clancy Michael Clancy (or Mick, as he was known in GAA circles) died at his Dublin home following a lengthy illness. He was in his early eighties and had worked in the Department of Finance (stationary office). He retired as a principal officer in 1987. Mick was a member of a well-known GAA family from Kilnaboy but played all his football in Dublin in the fifties as an excellent mid-fielder with Sean McDermotts. Some of his team-mates were household names in Gaelic football, namely Paddy O'Brien, Christo Hand, Paddy Connell (all Meath All-Ireland winner in 1954), Sean Quinn (Armagh). Paddy Casey and Mick Furlong (Offaly), Cecil Manning (Dublin), Pakie McGarty (Leitrim), Batt Lynch (Roscommon) and Clare stars, Noel Crowley and PJ O'Dea (Kilrush), Dick and Vincent Bradley and Paddy O'Dea (Kilfenora). Mick's brother, Myles, was also a member of that team. Both were invited to join the Clare senior football panel in 1952 but Mick declined for family reasons. He would have been a valuable asset to the Clare team, as Paddy O'Brien regarded him as one of the best mid-fielders playing in Dublin football at that time. Two other brothers, Donal and Murt, also played on Clare County teams in those years. On retiring from active playing, Mick became involved with Billy Quinn (Tipperary) and others in setting up Robert Emmets GAA club in his local area, Greentrees and Perrystown, Dublin. Two of his under-age stars, Niall Quinn and Dave Foran, went on to achieve fame. Mick's only son, John, was a very useful hurler until forced into early retirement due to a recurring leg injury. Some of his daughters were actively involved in ladies football and camogie. Mick took great pride in the achievements of his nephews in Clare and Dublin. Seamus and Colm Clancy with Ger Kelly were on the successful Clare football team of 1992 and two other nephews, Ben Kavanagh and Niall Clancy, won All-Ireland minor medals for Dublin in 1979 and 1984 and played on Dublin senior teams in the eighties and nineties. Two grand-nephews, Dara Kelly (Kilkee) Dara Clancy (Corofin) have been members of the present Clare senior football and hurling panels. Mick, a great family man, was also a fluent linguist and travelled extensively in his retirement. He will be sorely missed by his wife, Brede, his son and six daughters and eighteen grand-children, his sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, brothers and sisters, and extended family. Courtesy of the Clare Champion 24 March 2006 Tweet

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