It is with great regret that we acknowledge the passing of Willie Horgan, a Brian Dillons club stalwart, a gentleman and a great friend to many. Willie was a life long member of Brian Dillons, but he was also so much more to the club than just a member. Willie was a double city championship medalist, winning in 1965 and 1968 with the Brian Dillons junior hurling team. His commitment to the club didn't end on the playing field, Willie was firmly committed to developing the under age section and getting kids involved in playing GAA. He became secretary of the under age club for Brian Dillons as an eighteen year old and went on to be a successful secretary of the adult section also. Willie took up refereeing with Bórd n’Óg and progressed to national prominence. At the time of his passing he was the club's County Board delegate and Club PRO. The 1991 season was the most successful in Willie Horgan’s extensive refereeing career. Highlighted by his handling of the All-Ireland senior hurling final between Tipperary and Kilkenny, it also featured that season’s NHL final between Offaly and Wexford, as well as the county senior hurling final between Midleton and Glen Rovers. A year earlier he had charge of the League final in Gaelic Park between Kilkenny and New York. He first became involved at Munster Council level in the mid-seventies, starting with the 1976 minor hurling semi-final between Limerick and Waterford and the Munster club game between South Liberties and Portlaw. His first assignment at senior level was in 1984 for the game between Clare and Waterford and in 1989 he refereed the Munster final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh between Tipperary and Waterford. Nationally, he also handled the All-Ireland minor finals of 1982 and 1989. He had charge of the Munster under-21 finals of 1984, 1985 and 1986, the 1982 and 1983 minor finals and the 1986 and 1988 club finals. Among other appointments at Cork championship level, he refereed the 1976 senior hurling final between Glen Rovers and Blackrock and the final between Erins Own and Na Piarsaigh in 1992. In the last number of years Willie could be seen in attendance at every game the club was fielding a team in and helping out when needed, be it transportation, water, score board operator, you name it and at some point Willie would have stepped in to help out. Most recently he became the public relations officer for the club and looked after the clubs website, Facebook and Twitter account as well as match reports for the adult teams. A true gentleman his work throughout the years with the club has been amazing, at some point everybody in the club has benefited from his hard work and devotion to developing GAA talent. Willie was predeceased by his wife Peggy (neé Dorgan) and is survived by daughter Sinéad, sons, Mark, James and John, sister, Jean, and brothers Tim and Noel. Everyone involved with the club would like to extend their deepest sympathies to the family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Donal Lyons runai. Lying in repose at the Coburg Street Funeral Home of Jerh. O’Connor Ltd. Removal this evening (Saturday) at 7pm to St. Joseph’s Church, Mayfield. Requiem Mass at 2pm on Monday. Funeral afterwards to Rathcooney Cemetery. |
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