Death of Tipp's Billy Quinn, father of soccer star Niall
January 18, 2016
The late Billy Quinn with his son Niall
The death has taken place of Billy Quinn, the former Tipperary hurler and father of retired Republic of Ireland soccer player Niall Quinn.
Aged 80 and hailing from the Rahealty club, Billy captained the Tipp minors to back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 1952 and '53. He later won a National League medal with the Premier County before moving to Dublin. Sky Sports pundit Niall inherited his father's passion for hurling and played in Dublin's All-Ireland MHC final defeat to Galway in 1983 before embarking on a career in professional soccer with Arsenal.
Paying tribute to Billy, Tipperary county board chairman Michael Bourke said: "Men of the quality and calibre of Billy Quinn are unique in the GAA and his arrival on the Tipperary hurling scene at such a young age speaks volumes of his ability.
"Had government employment policy been different at the time, I have no doubt that Billy would have had many senior All-Ireland medals in his possession along with his two All-Ireland Minor medals.
"On behalf of Tipperary county board we extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Mary, sons and daughters Rosaleen, Gerry, Anne-Marie and Niall and the extended Quinn family on the sad passing of their beloved Billy".
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