Dave Billings RIP

[The Hill is Blue]

Very sad news today regarding the death of Dave Billings.

Dave was a great stalwart of Gaelic games in Dublin over many years and he will be very much missed.

RIP

http://www.dublingaa.ie/news/dublin-gaa-statement-dave-billings-rip

[AZOffaly]

Sad news. Everyone seems to only have good to say about him. I know Ciaran McManus is a big fan. Another blow to Dublin GAA following Andy Kettles passing as well. RIP.

[magpie seanie]

Some of the stuff I've read almost brought tears to my eyes. I wish I'd met someone like him when I went to college.

[orangeman]

RIP

The "nobody in the GAA did more for young people than Dave" quote says it all. That is some tribute when you add that he was " the finest GAA man I have ever met."


Tommy Lyons, who brought the St Vincent's man aboard as a selector when he was appointed Dublin manager, in late 2001 described him as "the finest GAA man I have ever met."
He served with Lyons for three years before continuing as a selector when Paul Caffrey took over as Dublin manager at the end of 2004.
"Nobody in the GAA did more for young people than Dave. He loved working with them. And while he was a true Dub to the core, he would do his very best to help everyone, as he did for so many years in UCD. He was a truly charismatic figure" said Lyons.
Describing him as one of the "most competitive people you would ever meet," Lyons said that Billings' honesty and his passion for the GAA made him a joy to be around.
"Above all else, Dave was fantastically loyal. A great man in every way. He would put you in good form the minute you met him," said Lyons.
Dublin CEO John Costello described him as a "Gaelic games evangelist" who would do anything to promote football and hurling.
"Dave dedicated large parts of his life to both football and hurling, whether as a player, a manager, or as an administrator.
"His influence spread much further than the confines of the playing fields of Dublin city and county as he acted as a trusted mentor and guiding light to students from all over Ireland during his 18 years as UCD Gaelic games executive in Belfield," said Costello.
GAA director-general Paraic Duffy said that Billings (left) was one of the most popular people in the Association.
"He was on our standing committee on playing rules so I spoke to him regularly on the phone. He'd often ring me up about all the issues of the day and always had interesting views. I was devastated to hear the news," said Duffy.
A member of the Dublin squad that won the All-Ireland title under Kevin Heffernan in 1974, Billings won an All-Ireland club medal with St Vincent's in 1976.

[johnneycool]

Very sad news today regarding the death of Dave Billings.

Dave was a great stalwart of Gaelic games in Dublin over many years and he will be very much missed.

RIP

http://www.dublingaa.ie/news/dublin-gaa-statement-dave-billings-rip

RIP.

Is he the lad heavily involved with UCD back in the 90's, with a bit of a tash?

[AZOffaly]

No, he has white hair and no tash. He was a UCD stalworth alright. This is him. Maybe he had a tash in the 90s?

[ck]

I was involved with IT Sligo over the years and ran into Billings from time to time. I personally found him passionate and sincere with plenty of devilment but overall he was pure GAA to the core. It was his passion for people that made him the man who was so respected. 

[AZOffaly]

I thought this was nice when I saw it over the weekend. The UCD players for Dublin and Tipp linked arms for the moment's silence for Dave Billings. A nice touch.

[magpie seanie]

I thought is was absolutely fantastic AZ. In a huge game with so much at stake for players from opposing sides to pay such a tribute - unique and fitting I felt.