The late Gerry Mullan

Monday 2nd January 2023

Coiste Chontae an Dúin and the family that is Down GAA are saddened to learn of the death of Gerry Mullan our former Ulster Council Delegate. A member of the Ballycran Club, Gerry was a man passionate about all things Irish with Hurling, Camogie and Culture amongst his great loves, he had a great memory recall and was a man who gave outstanding service to his Club, his County and his Province.

 Gerry first came to prominence as a member of the County Hurling Board in the mid-fifties and served as a County Team selector from 1962 through to 1979 and then in 1988 Gerry was elected as an Ulster Council Delegate where along with his good friend Fintan Mussen he would represent Down at provincial level until 2009, twenty-one years of unbroken service. Gerry also had a great passion for Refereeing, he was an Inter County Referee himself and was prominent within Down in efforts over many years to recruit more referees.  Gerry was a methodical thinker, a man who when he spoke others listened,  and he represented the Down Clubs at Ulster and ensured that the Clubs were always aware of opportunities for grant funding from the Provincial body. He had too a great love for Scór and the promotion of our culture and language.

Gerry was key to the revival of Camogie in Down in the 1960s and was a proud Team selector on the All-Ireland Junior Winning Team of 1968, he also served as Chairperson of the Camogie Board from 1964 to 1970 and was always available to help Clubs trying to start Camogie or in cases too trying to reignite the flame, Gerry gave selflessly of his time throughout Down and Ulster to ensure that Camogie continued to grow. In the GAA we look to people who are giver's and there is no doubt Gerry Mullan was such a person in the cause of the GAA, when you think too that he was often away from home from early morning until after midnight on many occasions, he epitomised the volunteer ethos of our great organisation.

With all of his County and Provincial commitments, Gerry's first love was still for Ballycran, it was here that he had first developed the love for our game, He would win Senior and Junior County Championships as a player but it was to be as a Team Mentor and Club Officer that Gerry would really shine for his Club, he was to the fore when McKenna Park was opened in June 1966. Gerry filled many roles for the Club, he was a committee member, who always had a solution to a problem, he meticulously kept records and was always willing to show support to Office holders at Club and County, to offer that quiet word of encouragement that meant a lot to someone finding their way.

We in Down GAA were very proud to have had Gerry in our midst for many years, he was a decent man and a good Gael, it was an honour for many of us to have served with Gerry and Down GAA , St Josephs Ballycran and Down Camogie are better for having had the involvement of Gerry Mullan over many years, for he made a difference to the lives of many and often it went unnoticed.

On behalf of the family that is Down GAA we offer our deepest sympathy to Gerry's family, his sons and daughters,  Mary, Geraldine, Conleth, Áine, Fintan and Dermot, his sons in law and daughters in law,  Kevin, Brian, Marie, Simon, Frances and Carmel, his grandchildren and great grandchildren and brothers Phil and Des  We offer our sympathies too to the Ballycran Club on the loss of a most valued member and true Gael.

Funeral Arrangements for Gerry Mullan

Mullan (Portaferry) Died 31st December 2022, peacefully. Gerry, beloved husband of the late Eileen, devoted father of Mary, Geraldine, Conleth, Áine, Fintan and Dermot, dear father-in-law of Kevin, Brian, Marie, Simon, Frances and Carmel, much loved grandfather and great grandfather and a dear brother of Phil, Des and the late Joe, Michael, Barney, Peter and baby Rosina.

Gerry's remains will be reposing in John Smith Funeral Home Tuesday 3rd 6.00 - 8.00, Wednesday 4th 10.00 - 12.00, 2.00 - 4.00 and 6.00 - 8.00. Funeral will leave the funeral home on Thursday 5th at 11.30am to St. Patrick's Church, Ballyphilip for Requiem Mass at 12noon followed by burial in adjoining cemetery.