Symapthy Down GAA learns of Passing of former Gaels

Monday 14th June 2021

Sadly, over the past few days, we in Down GAA have learned of the deaths of number of Gaels and on behalf of Coiste Chontae an Dúin and the family that is Down GAA, we would like to acknowledge their contribution to Down GAA. 

This morning we learned of the death of Columban Fitzsimons,  Chairperson of Saul GAC, Vice Chairperson of the East Down Committee and a man who had a long and distinguished involvement in the world of Down GAA. Columban was a man who was always willing to serve, a man who epitomised the GAA as the Give All Association,  for in every role that he undertook Columban gave of his very best. 

Columban played for his beloved Saul before then taking up the whistle as Referee and even then, he was still a player,  as in 1983 Columban was a member of the Panel that represented Down and won the All Ireland 7 a side Referees competition.

The Saul Club continued to grow as Columban became chairman in recent years and he was a very proud man in Pairc Esler in 2020 when his Club won the Down Intermediate Football Championship, indeed Columban was a man who encouraged others to take on roles, for when Columban asked you to do something it was hard to say no, to a man who was always willing to give of his time to help others. 

He loved his County, he served on the East Down Committee as its current Vice Chairperson and over years on other County Sub Committees, in recent years along with his brother Martin, Columban answered the call for Half Time Draw Sellers in Pairc Esler, there he enjoyed meeting people and like his involvement in supporting Scór it was about helping his County and as he saw it doing his wee bit. Through his many and widespread contributions to the GAA and the Community Columban helped make a difference to so many people, We on behalf of Down GAA extend our deepest sympathies to the entire Fitzsimons family circle and to the Gaels of Saul on the loss of a good man.

We also extend our Sympathies to the Families of the following who also passed away in recent days, Brendan Cousins was a former player and referee with An Riocht and an uncle of current referee Neil and we offer our sympathy to the entire Cousins family circle and to the Gaels of An Riocht.

Liam O Flaherty was a former Newry Shamrocks and Down Hurler who passed away on Saturday, to his wife Julia, sons Niall, Rory, the O Flaherty Family circle and the Gaels of Newry Shamrocks, we offer our sympathy at this sad time.

Moira Graham from Warrenpoint who passed away on Saturday at the great age of 101 was the mother of St Pauls County Board Member Donal and we extend our deepest Sympathy to Donal, his wife Maeve and his family circle on the loss of a much-loved Mother and Grandmother.

Stella McKeown of Kilwarlin has also passed away. In the past few years, Stella was a great supporter of the weekly Club bingo, attending it regularly and keeping the craic going. Her late husband James was a former chairman of the club and her sons Michael, Oliver and Patrick have worked hard on and off the field for the club over the years holding Office within the Club and as County Board Reps in the not-too-distant past.

We extend our sympathies to the McKeown family and to the Gaels of St Michaels.