Communities near and far have lost a great friend, worker and advocate of all that is GAA.

James was part of the panel that took my son Hugh for the U14 Antrim football development squad. Always there, always helping, always offering one to one advice, always picking up the bibs, the balls that are left behind. He gathered the boys round 1 time and asked who had their gumshields; very few hands went up. He proceeded to take his false teeth out and delcare ‘this is what happens when you don’t wear a gumshield to training!”. Still smiling.

Hugh had just finished playing a game of hurling and James passed him and smiled “I’m glad to see you’re playing a proper sport now!”

Rest in Peace James. You made a difference.