The late Ger Henry News of Ger Henry's passing evoked shock and sadness throughout the entire region. We were all aware for some time that Ger's illness was serious and that barring a miracle it was irreversible. We feared the worst but we hoped for the best for a highly respected human being. Ger, of Facefield, Claremorris, had so many virtues that it would be impossible to even try to document them here. He was first and foremost a magnificent husband to Ailish, and a wonderful father to their seven children. He respected others and others respected him. He knew no other way because that's how he was brought up. His faith was very important to him; he practiced what he preached by giving of his time freely, quietly and without question to others. Sport was an abiding passion of his, particularly Gaelic football; he loved his club, Mayo Gaels, and the Mayo county team. Ger was a fine footballer and played the game hard but fair, winning many honours with his club as a no-nonsense corner back. He played on the Mayo Gaels team that won the Intermediate Championship in 1984, the county Superleauge in 1988 and was chairman of the club when they won the Intermediate Championship again in 1998. As a young Chairman, he was in many ways before his time: innovative, clear-thinking and full of new ideas. He was at the forefront of the fine pitch and clubrooms that was opened by Sean Flanagan in 1992 and sit snugly on the village that gave Mayo its proud name. He started the club lotto when the idea was relatively new and untried elsewhere. Ger organised the Sean Flanagan Cup which saw many of the leading teams in the country come to his home club. The coming of the FBD League in Connacht signalled the end of that wonderful idea, due to a clash of fixtures at that time of year. Ger must rate amongst the finest supporters Mayo has ever had. He travelled to America, to England and all over the country in pursuit of his Green & Red in the company of his close friend Toby McWalter and others. An eternal optimist, he derived much enjoyment out of debating the good and the not so good over a pint in the company of his friends when the game was over. Ger had a good brian that he used to effect in building up a thriving accountancy practice in Claremorris that he had refurbished and enlarged. He will be forever remembered as a true gentleman. The world will certainly be a poorer place for his passing. We offer our deepest sympathy to his wife, Ailish; children, Ross, Briona, Lorcan, Roisin, Orlagh, Cormac and Ruairi; father Tom, mother Noreen, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends. Ar dheis De go riabh se - AG The death of Ger Henry of Mayo Gaels is a stark reminder of the frailty of life. A GAA man to the core, Ger had worked selflessly in the interest of Mayo Gaels and the parish it served, and those who played for the club and supported it have every reason to be grateful for his untiring energy and devotion to an ideal. Ger spared no effort in developing Mayo Gaels into one of the most progressive clubs in the county. The modern grounds and dressing rooms are a monument to his endeavours, and news of his passing at such an early age will have saddened all those who had the pleasure of knowing him to his family we tender our deepest sympathy - SR Courtesy of the Mayo News 12 June 2007 Tweet

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