Courage and class of Paul Clancy will always be cherished

Former Galway footballer Paul Clancy died on Monday June 22, 2026. A proud Maigh Cuilinn clubman, Clancy will be fondly remembered by family, friends, and GAA supporters. Deepest sympathies to his wife Johanna, daughter Ellen, son Finn, mother Mary, brother Gearoid, sisters Linda and Ailish and their loved ones.

By Cian O'Connell

There was always a glint in Paul Clancy's eyes talking about Gaelic Football.

Clancy's passion for Maigh Cuilinn and Galway teams never, ever diminished. As a player, coach, and administrator Clancy served the game in all sorts of ways.

Class and courage were the trademarks. The play anywhere versatility never left him. For club or county, Clancy could carry out different roles. Fuss wasn't on the agenda, simply answering the call.

Stephen Joyce, a selector alongside Pete Warren when the decorated John O'Mahony was in charge, acknowledges Clancy's significant contribution. "He was a stalwart," Joyce says.

"All teams have players who get the limelight, but Paul was never that type of player. He just did his work quietly. The skill level, commitment, and strength, he was as tough as nails, but as skilful as they come."

Two All-Ireland SFC titles were captured. An unfortunate leg injury disturbed Clancy in the cherished campaign of 1998, but the Maigh Cuilinn man still managed to get back on the Croke Park pitch for the closing minutes of the final triumph over Kildare.

Moments of brilliance were illustrated at the Jones Road venue in the intervening years.

Clancy's outrageous pass for Declan Meehan's gorgeous goal against Kerry in the 2000 final replay remains etched in the minds of GAA enthusiasts. "He always seemed to have time on the ball to pick out these great passes as we saw in the 2000 All-Ireland final when he passed to Declan Meehan over his shoulder without looking," Joyce recalls.

"Obviously, he'd known that Declan had made the run. He could see that which other players couldn't. It was pure class.

"He'd spotted Declan before he even received the ball, he was able to do that. He could pick out a pass, he'd put the ball down into your pocket."

Galway's 1998 All-Ireland winning captain Ray Silke, Corofin to the core, but now living in Moycullen, highlights Clancy's wit and charm. "He was terrific with one liners," Silke says.

"His closest friend from the Galway set-up was Declan Meehan, another man who is outrageously witty with a fantastic sense of humour. Clanc could cut you down, but you'd be laughing with him the next minute."

A year later, when the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers were introduced, Clancy kicked a splendid point to win a tight and tense encounter against Armagh. "In 2001, he kicked a vital point at the end when Michael Donnellan dispossessed Armagh," Joyce recalls.

"That was the winning of the game. If that happened, the 2001 All-Ireland mightn't have come to Galway. That is how important Paul was to the whole set-up."

Silke noticed Clancy's steel early on after graduating to the Galway senior panel. "I remember the first time I marked him with Galway, it was under Bosco McDermott," Silke says.

"He was just out of minor, we'd a bit of getting to know each other, I couldn't believe the power of him, and his self confidence. He was just ready to go. Paul didn't really care about reputations, he'd self belief, but he wasn't arrogant. He was dead sound."

In the Galway sporting story, Moycullen is a remarkable place. The greatest of sports people, male and female, were raised in Moycullen, bringing joy to the local community.

Clancy, though, excelled at Gaelic Football. There was a time, in the closing stages of his playing career, when Clancy would inspire Maigh Cuilinn to crucial wins late in a campaign.

Joyce remembers the role Clancy played in Maigh Cuilinn's 2008 AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club success. Clancy was the talisman.

A new generation of players were beginning to emerge in the club with Gareth Bradshaw, the Lydons, and David Wynne, amongst others, carrying the flag. "He could play anywhere - he was a footballer," Joyce says.

"In later years he played in goal for the club. Such was his level of commitment and what he demanded of players, he decided to come back out. So, that was the type of player he was.

"Centre back when he played for the club in 2008 when they won the Intermediate All-Ireland final. He totally dictated everything from centre back, it was a joy to watch, he could dictate the whole game. He controlled it, a brilliant footballer."

A decade or so later Peter Cooke, Dessie Conneely, and the accomplished Kelly brothers emerged. By then, Clancy was operating as club chairman. His brother in law, Don Connellan, who also died last year, was the Maigh Cuilinn manager.

It was some combination for Maigh Cuilinn. Perhaps one of the nicest and most fitting tributes to Connellan and Clancy is the high standards being maintained in the club. New leaders are emerging on and off the field of play.

Two years ago, before the 2024 All-Ireland SFC Final, Clancy discussed the road to becoming an administrator. There had been managerial and coaching stints at club, college, and inter-county level, but for Clancy there was joy to be found as a club chairperson.

"I suppose after I played, I did get involved in the coaching side of things for a while,” Clancy reflected.

"Then, I think, it was my own circumstances with work and at home, having kids, with my job, I was travelling for work.

"I kind of came to a point where I couldn't give the commitment to being on the pitch for coaching. I still wanted to be involved in the GAA in some way.

"In my own club, the chairman came up. It is like all jobs in the GAA that you get, if you don't say no the first time, it is generally taken as a yes in the GAA. So, I was in as chairman then for four years, and I was able to do that.

"It didn't have the same impact as having been on the pitch has. You can manage the chairman role at night or at the weekends without that tough schedule of being on the pitch.

"It has its own challenges running a club and we were fairly successful for a few years with Maigh Cuilinn. Then, the expectations were high. I enjoyed it. I did it for four years and I stepped down last year (2023) because you can give it a while and then let somebody else in, to let them have it for a while. Give what you can, when you can, and move on."

An appreciation for Gaelic Football was something that mattered. It is something that struck Silke about Clancy. "He loved football, he coached with Garrycastle, Moycullen, he was with Justin McNulty, and went in with Alan Mulholland," Silke says.

"He was very well respected. He knew his football. When I think about him, I think about what good company he was, he'd have your back. You can measure people by their friends sometimes. Declan Meehan is 100 per cent. Ja Fallon, who he'd be close to, Pat Comer, and Gary Fahey, top people. They're the type of people that gravitated towards Paul Clancy.

"Paul is revered out here, to be honest. All the Clancys are very popular figures. The fact that Gearoid went to Australia, they feel that loss on the playing fields because he was a good footballer too.

"Linda and Ailish are hugely respected, Linda was married to Don. In a small community like this, you've wheels. Mairead Kelly, the club secretary is related to the Clancys. He'd be very, very popular with very good friends."

In the coming days, weeks, months, and years whenever his former Galway and Maigh Cuilinn colleagues gather, they'll fondly recall Clancy's contribution.

On All-Ireland final day next month Galway's 2001 outfit will be honoured. "We're due to be in Croke Park in a few weeks time to celebrate 25 years," Joyce says. "It's so sad. Paul was deeply involved in organising that up to a number of weeks ago."

Players and supporters will remember his exploits. The medals and memories providing a drop of comfort during an demanding time. "He was just cool with a fantastic sense of humour," Silke says.

"While he'd have had self belief, he was very laid back with it. He was very good company to be in."

A gentleman that won't be forgotten. Go raibh maith agat Paul.