Liam O'Neill RIP

[The Boy Wonder]

Liam O'Neill was The only Laois man (no disrespect to Bob O'Keeffe, Kilkenny born) to have the distinction of holding the office of GAA President and the first GAA President elected unopposed.

RIP Liam

[Eamonnca1]

Surprising and sad news. He was a good guy, and not that old. We interviewed him at the US nationals in 2013:

https://youtu.be/OjqIcuG80is?t=1179

[Verbal]

May Liam rest in peace.
I don't know if Laois have had as strong a character in a position of authority on the County Board since.
There is always a slight sense of "football v hurling" in this county.
Liam was always fair and true to both.
Crucially, hurling people trusted him that we would get our fair dues. I'm not sure we have had that sense since.

It's hard to see much personal gain or ambition in anything the man did.
He wasn't afraid to ruffle feathers, going back to his time as Hurling Board Secretary in the early 1990s.
He certainly didn't bow down to the County Board in an effort to curry favour for future ambitions.

A true Gael.

May he Rest in Peace.