GALWAY United assistant manager Ollie Horgan was laid to rest on Monday afternoon following a funeral Mass in Salthill which was attended by hundreds of people from around the country, including Uachtaráin na hÉireann, Michael D Higgins.

The Salthill native died on Thursday morning last at the age of 58 after a year-long battle with cancer, with his death sparking an outpouring of grief, as well as the recollection of some fabled tales involving a man who one football fan described as the best friend the League of Ireland ever had.

In a moving eulogy to his father, Brendan Horgan spoke of how, after a poor start to one season as Harps manager, his father was stopped for speeding outside Tuam where he quipped that he now had more penalty points than Harps had league points.

Brendan also spoke of his father’s toughness as a player, remarking how over the weekend the family had met many of his father’s former opponents “who all seemed to have the same limp”.

There was also acknowledgement of his faith – his rosary beads were one of the gifts brought to the altar; while the Mass was also told of his frequent visits to the church in Letterkenny for a quick prayer, sometimes with the engine of his car left running.

Tributes poured in from across the island, starting on the evening of his death when the players of Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers wore black armbands in their respective Europa Conference League qualifiers in Belfast and Dublin in tribute to Horgan.

Shelbourne captain Paddy Barrett spoke movingly and at length of Horgan after his side’s 2-0 win over Linfield in Windsor Park, where the home side carried a photo of Horgan on its giant screen in the 57th minute of the game – initial reports of the death of Horgan erroneously gave his age as 57.

People travelled from all over the country for his funeral over the weekend: reposing took place at his home in Corrandulla throughout Saturday, followed on Sunday at the O’Flaherty Funeral Parlour in the city.

Pictured: The late Galway United Assistant Coach Ollie Horgan.

Former United players Conor O’Keeffe and Mikie Rowe travelled from Dundalk and Wexford respectively to join this year’s Galway United squad in a guard of honour alongside the hearse as it made its way to Rahoon Cemetery after the funeral Mass on Monday.

Staff and pupils from St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny, where Horgan had been a teacher since 1989, also took part in a guard of honour on Monday, and they were joined by staff and players from Finn Harps in Donegal, where Horgan spent nine years as manager before moving to Galway United in November 2022.

He was predeceased by his older brother, Martin, in January 2024, another man steeped in the world of football; as well as his parents, Joe and Bernie.

He is survived by his wife Anita and their children Emma, Anthony, Brendan, Conor, and David; his sister Mary and brother Ger; in-laws Kit, Brian and Caroline; as well as nephews, nieces, extended family and friends.

As a result of his funeral at the weekend, Galway United’s scheduled game away to Shelbourne last Sunday was postponed, and instead goes ahead this Sunday at Tolka Park (6pm), where tributes are expected to be paid to the legendary figure of Irish football.

Galway United’s first home game since his death will be against Sligo Rovers on Monday September 22, when the club plans a tribute of its own.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Pictured: The funeral cortege, with a guard of honour by Galway United players and staff, before leaving the Church of Christ the King Salthill, to Ollie Horgan’s final resting place at Rahoon Cemetery. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.