Just heard the sad news of the death of Mick Holden, the great hurler and footballer of the 70s and 80s.
May he rest in peace.
RIP Mick
No way. Feck that's awful news. RIP Mick.
Did he lose an eye at one stage?
That's terrible news.
god rest his soul
RIP Mick
Was he the guy that told Barney Rock to get up to feck when he was laid on the Croke Park sod.
Rest in peace.
Terrible news.
I remember him well....he couldnt have been that old...anyone know what happened him??
RIP
Sincerest condolences to his family and friends
There was a piece in Irish Times a few weeks ago about hurling being his first love. He was on the 1973 Dublin under-21 team that were defeated by Galway in the final. Was involved in hurling up till his untimely passing away.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Shocking news, ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis. RIP Mick Holden.
Terrible News.
RIP Mick.
jesus thats afull news i used to play football in Cuala where mick was a member and a nicer man you couldn't meet allways made you feel welcome. May he Rest in Peace .
Terrible news - A great lad and still have the treasured photo of toothless Mick with my late Father and Sam in 1983. RIP Mick
I met him in San Francisco on one of the All Stars trips. It was the tour after he pulled Rock up. He was a great fellow, friendly with everyone and totally modest. RIP
Sad to hear about that. RIP.
He was some character. Remember reading about the hatred between the Cork and Meath teams in the late 80s - they both ended up holidaying on the same island and spend the time there avoid each other. Told them both to cop themselfs on - "Jaysus lads, ye'll all be dead and there won't be a football in sight. And if there is one, it's mine and ye can't play with it," says Mick
My God may he rest in peace. Thats terrible news. What happened to him?
I remember him vividly with the blond hair. A real warrior that came across as a decent sort and I also read the article JBM just referred to. According to Today FM he was only 52. Did'nt even think he was that old...
shocking news, heard on the radio that he died suddenly. 52 years of age the same as tim kennelly when he died. RIP Mick
RIP , Shocking news
Shock is too mild a word for this news. I remember him as being one great character.
Go ndéanfadh Dia trócaire as a anam dhílis.
Very sorry to hear this terrible news.
May He Rest In Peace.
May he rest in peace.
(from Hoganstand)
The late Mick Holden
Mick Holden
26 September 2007
We are sad to report the death of former Dublin footballer and hurler Mick Holden.
Mick, who was only 52 years of age, died suddenly this morning, Wednesday 26th September. He played with the Cuala club who choose their pick from around the Dalkey area of south Dublin.
Cuala is a dual operation and the late Mick excelled in both grades, playing at most underage levels for the Dubs.
He lined out with the Dublin senior hurlers for years and figured at centre half forward as Leinster won the 1979 Railway Cup hurling competition at Connacht's expense. But to most, Mick Holden will be remembered as the teak tough defender on the Dublin football team of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
With the long blond hair immediately bringing his actions to the attention of the crowd, Mick lined out at full back on the Dublin selection beaten by Kerry in the 1979 All-Ireland decider.
His biggest moment arrived in the 1983 final when the Dubs beat Galway in what was probably the most controversial All-Ireland ever. Inspired by Holden in the number 2 jersey, the Sky Blues, down to 12 men, held out in the face of a gale and fierce Galway pressure.
He and Dublin were back 12 months later. Again Mick Holden lined out at right full back but again Kerry proved that bit stronger.
Mick Holden became one of the few players to win Railway Cup medals in both codes and when Leinster gained Railway Cup football honours for the first time after 11 years in 1985, there was Mick in his favourite number 2 jersey.
Our deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
Nickey Brennan, President of the GAA, said this evening that he was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the death of former Dublin hurler and All Ireland senior football medal winner, Mick Holden. The President said that Mick was one of the most charismatic, colourful and passionate players to ever play Gaelic Games. From Kilkenny heritage, Mick and his brothers PJ and Vinne, under the tutelage of their late father Tom, became synonymous with Cuala, the spirit of Gaelic Games and all that is associated with being role models.
The President said that Mick embodied that rare gift of being a gentleman who enjoyed every minute on the playing field while performing in the hard edge of the cauldron of Intercounty football at the highest level. Mick's tousled blonde hair made him stand out on the field of play as he excelled in all that is the cocktail of skill, commitment and pride in the jersey that represents the complete County player.
The President said a light went out today in Dublin and GAA circles with the news of Mick's untimely death . He expressed his condolences to Mick's family and his large circle of friends.
Go ndeana Dia trocaire ar a hanam dilis
(http://www.hoganstand.com/Common/ImageGallery/mickholden.jpg)
Terrible news, another young man taken too early, would I be right in saying he's the first of that Dublin team from the 70's and 80's to pass on.
Have great memories of a great hearted yet hard but fair player who gave his all for his county, he will be missed. The big blond head on him made him stand out. Fair play to him for pulling Rock up off the ground and telling him to get on with it. Must give the Golden yeas a watch to see him in action again.
Himself and Tim Kennelly will have some craic wherever they are now talking about the good old Kerry Dublin days of the 70's and 80's.
RIP Mick
Unbelievable news !
Mick was such a hard nut, it's hard to believe a man like him could die at such a young age !
RIP - Sympathy to his family.
The good ones are always taken young.
desperate news indeed
Desperate news indeed . May he rest in peace
RIP Mick Holden
Very sad news.
Shocking news.
Condolences to Mick's family and club members on their terrible loss.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Terrible news
A true Dubs' warrior and one of my favs at the time.
RIP
In 1983 I saw most of the Dublin games (except the All-Ireland final) as the Kildare minors went on a good run too. (Back then the minors preceed the senior games.)
Mick Holden and PJ Buckley were my favouruite players.
He was a class act.
So sorry to hear that news.
A day later it's still hard to take in that Mick has died -
It was a big shock when I heard this in the car yesterday. Really sad news. I've very vivid memories of himself and Pat Canavan repelling everythnig that Galway could throw at them in '83, even though they were two men down. Heroic stuff. And of course the incident with Barney is the stuff of legend. What a terrible loss.
I have a vague memory too of him being the victim of a vicious assault playing hurling for Cuala. I just remember the picture of his face in the paper and his description of how he was trying to calm down a bit of a melee and then feeling as if he'd been "hit by a train".
A terrible shock. I didn't think he was that old but the '83 final is almost 25 yrs ago now. This is taken from an interview Tom Humphries did with Heffo back in 2004
Bobby Doyle recalls a Leinster championship game against Laois where he enjoyed a fine first half. At half-time Heffernan made a point of asking was Doyle on the field. When was he going to do something.
Spitting fire, Doyle went out and destroyed Laois for the second half. Coming off the field, still furious, he made a beeline for Heffernan intending to ask if he'd noticed that.
He found Heffernan smiling.
"Well Bobby. That worked!" And then there was Mick Holden.
"How could you not love a rogue like Holden!" Heffernan exclaims when you raise the name with him. "He got away with things because he played the way he did."
They remember the dishevelment of Holden as he would arrive. Legendary, he had 22 sets of lights to come through between Dun Laoghaire and Parnell Park. This wasn't counting a stop at McDonalds in O'Connell Street where he would buy two quarter-pounders with cheese. One for the remainder of the journey. One to eat before training.
The Nissan hut in Parnell Park would smell of Holden's fag, brandished in one hand and his burger clasped in the other. The air would be thick with Holden's stories from the night before. And 29 other players would be glancing nervously towards the door, waiting for Heffernan. They knew Holden was a hurler on his holidays in football.
They knew he could walk away happily at any time.
Heffernan cut him enough slack to keep him interested. He did his job and was never found wanting.
Quote from: Kerry Mike on September 26, 2007, 08:28:44 PM
(http://www.hoganstand.com/Common/ImageGallery/mickholden.jpg)
Terrible news, another young man taken too early, would I be right in saying he's the first of that Dublin team from the 70's and 80's to pass on.
I'm pretty sure that's right - can't think of anyone else passing..
Saddened to hear a hero from my youth has passed away... I always had more admiration for dual stars like Mick, Liam Currams and Teddy McCarthy. Jaysus, 52 is awful young. RIP