Former Fulham Irish player and model is laid to rest

The funeral has taken place of Diarmaid Maher, the former Fulham Irish GAA player and model.

The talented 29-year-old was found dead last week in Waterford City. Maher was a native of Ring in Co. Waterford and played for Fulham Irish from 2006 until 2010. He returned to Ireland to pursue a modelling career and went on to star in the RTE reality TV series Fade Street.

Diarmaid's funeral took place in Ring and representatives from Fulham Irish were among those who attended.

John Doyle from the club said: "Diarmaid was a real all-rounder, a very talented bloke. News of his passing has come as a great shock.

"He was there in the early days of the club forming and played midfield in the intermediate team that won the championship.

"He was very loyal - not many players stick around clubs in London for five years - and also very funny. He was the MC at one of our dinner dances and the type of fella that always had a crowd around him. He was a good club man and was well liked."

Maher graduated from UCC with first class honours degree in Business Information Systems before moving to London to join the graduate programme at Deloitte.

He moved back to Ireland in 2010 and carved out a successful career as a model with Assets Models Agency in Dublin. He also wrote a column for Dublin-based Stellar magazine and was once voted Ireland's 'second hottest bachelor'.

In a statement Fulham Irish said: "Diarmaid was an incredible athlete, never more so demonstrated than in the GOAL 5km run at Battersea Park in 2007, when Diarmaid finished third overall, beating some fine elite athletes in the process. All his club friends will remember the big smile always on his face."

Paying tribute on Twitter, DJ and model Vogue McFadden, wife of former Westlife singer Brian, said: "Very sad to hear about ©diarmaidmaher my thoughts are with his family x."

Fade Street tweeted: "We are very saddened by the news of the sudden loss of our cast member Diarmaid Maher - he will be greatly missed."

Stellar magazine added: "We are deeply saddened to hear the news about Diarmaid Maher. Qur thoughts are with his family"

Diarmaid Maher would have turned 30 on June 7.


Courtesy of The Irish Post. Tweet

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