All-Ireland semi-final tribute for Limerick GAA referee and administrator John O'Grady

A SPECIAL tribute was paid to Limerick All-Ireland final referee and GAA administrator John O'Grady before the start of Saturday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final at Croke Park.

The Croke Park attendance of 59,739 rose to its feet on Saturday evening in a mark of respect to one of Limerick's best known and well respected referees and GAA administrators, John O'Grady who passed away last week.

John O'Grady, from Mungret St Pauls GAA club, was a highly popular and well decorated referee who took charge of a host of big hurling games over the years, including the 1977 All-Ireland hurling final between Cork and Wexford.

He received a warm round of applause from the attendance at GAA HQ before the throw-in of the clash between Limerick and Galway.

The late John O'Grady began his refereeing career at the tender age of 18 when he donned the whistle for a City Board Championship game in 1958 between Ballybrown and Patrickswell. He also served in various roles within the City Board, including Secretary as well as Secretary of Mungret-St Paul's GAA Club.

John played his underage GAA with Commericals and Young Irelands as Mungret had no underage set up at the time but graduated to adult hurling with his home club. 

His daughter Collette has followed in Sean's footsteps by taking up many roles within Limerick GAA and was the county's football PRO up until recent times.

John O'Grady is sadly missed by his loving family, wife Gemma, son Henry, daughter Colette, grandsons Mark and Harry, daughter-in-law Orla, brothers Michael and Henry, sisters Kathleen (Murphy) Moira (O’Connell), nephews, nieces, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, other relatives, neighbours and friends.

Following Funeral Mass in St Oliver Plunkett Church, Mungret on Tuesday last, the late John O'Grady was laid to rest in Old Mungret Cemetery. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam.