Tributes paid to referee:

The funeral will today take place of GAA referee Martin Mulholland, who died suddenly while refereeing a hurling championship game on Friday night. Last night, tributes were being paid to the Slaughtneil man, who passed away enroute to the Causeway Hospital after collapsing early in the second half of the clash between Kevin Lynch's and Ballinascreen. The death of the highly respected 58-year-old official has plunged the GAA community into mourning. A former member of the National Referees' Panel, he had refereed a Christy Ring Cup final in Croke Park, as well as an Ulster club final and two Derry county finals. Among those to pay tribute to the former Slaughtneil player and manager was GAA President Christy Cooney, who will attend the funeral service today. He said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Martin's family and friends following their terrible loss this week." "Martin had life long involvement with our Association and left us while serving the GAA acting as a referee during a championship match." "On behalf of the wider membership I would like to offer my sympathies to the Mulholland family and the member of Robert Emmet GAC Slaughtneil." A life-long GAA volunteer, Mr. Mulholland had also been actively involved with his local club, Robert Emmet's Slaughtneil, in various different capacities. A statement issues by the club said "Martin served his beloved Robert Emmet's GAC Slaughtneil for over 45years as a player, trainer, manager, referee, administrator and worker. "He epitomised everything that is good and upstanding in our association and was regarded as a true gentleman by all who had the privilege of being in his company," said a statement released by the Emmet's club. Mr Mulholland's Requiem mass will take place today at 11am in St. John the Baptist church, Granaghan.

(Text courtesy of Derry Post 16/08/2011) Tweet

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