O'Toole, George
July 02, 2008
The Late George O'Toole
The Sligo based Chairman of the Connacht Council has paid tribute to the late George O'Toole, a former Trustee of the GAA.
Mr Lauri Quinn said George has given many long years of service to the Association both at club, county and provincial level.
"At his beloved Paric Sean in Carrick he was 'the man in charge'. The ground and its development was always close to his heart.
"On a personal level, I got to know George over the past fourteen years, from the time I took over as Treasurer in Sligo. He was always a gentlemen, very quick witted and wanting to get things done," said Mr Quinn.
George served as Chairman and President of the Leitrim County Board. He was President of the Connacht Council and a Connacht Council delegate.
He is best known for his leadership of the Pairc Sean Committee and the development of the county ground in Carrick-on-Shannon.
A native of Annaduff George was captain of the St. Mary's when they won their first ever senior championship in 1958. He was also Chairman of the club at the time.
George won a minor championship medal with Eslin in 1943. A year later, he joined St. Mary's and played for over fifteen years with the Carrick team. He was a member of the Committee and purchased the grounds in 1964 and served as Chairman for thirty-four years, retiring in 1995.
He was elected Chairman of the County Board in 1970 and held the position for ten years. He was a Connacht Council delegate for twenty years and was elected Vice-Chairman in 1986. He became President for three years in 1988.
In 1991 he was elected as a trustee of the GAA. George joined Gilmartin's Cash & Carry in Carrick-on-Shannon in 1943, where he went on to become manager and director of the company. He retired in1991.
He is a former President of Carrick-on-Shannon Chamber of Commerce and was deeply involved in number of community groups.
George was predeceased by his wife, Alma in December 1995.
The President of the GAA Mr Nickey Brennan, has paid tribute of the late Mr O'Toole, stating that he gave a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the Association.
"The GAA would not have developed and flourished without men like George, who were dynamic and visionary for most of their lives and who gave paternal direction and advice in their latter years. George was a total gentleman who left a great legacy," he said.
- courtesy of the Sligo Champion, 2nd July 2008
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