Brian Mullins passed away on Friday evening, even as his St Vincent’s club were lining up to win their latest County Championship with their Senior Camogie team.
It had been known throughout GAA circles in recent weeks that this was a battle he would not survive but still when an icon is taken down too early the pain is ever greater.
Mullins was a great footballer but more than that a great leader. He spanned Dublin’s four All Ireland titles won between 1974 and 1983 from a teenager to a comeback after injuries in a car crash that would have ended the career of almost any other human being.
He played on the edge at times and he was sent off, along with three other Dublin players and one from Galway in the famous 12 apostles Final of 1983. That was my first All Ireland Final, coming off the back of memorable trips to Cork in the semi-final series, and so perhaps it sticks in the memory more than most.
As part of a career in sport, I have been privileged to meet many stars but meeting him in person for the first time as Head of Sport at UCD was one that felt extra special.
It is in the blue of Dublin that most of the images portray him but he was a master of many sports, playing rugby for Leinster and being a universal advocate for all sports overseeing Ireland’s original Sports Campus at Belfield.
He led St Vincents to Club glory in Dublin and in 1976 to the All Ireland Club title. He also played Rugby and Cricket for Clontarf at provincial level, and managed Derry to the Ulster Football Championship in 2008.
Minutes silences were held across Dublin throughout the weekend in advance of every game in Dublin GAA and in multiple other sports as well.
In an era of the pursuit of excellence in single sports, he was a standout across many, as a player, manager and administrator.
The sporting world is poorer for his absence, may he rest in peace.
