SHOCK DEATH OF GAA CHIEF
 By
GRAINNE McLOUGHIN AND LARRY COONEY
A WEDDING celebration turned to tragedy after one of the most popular
figures in Irish business and GAA circles collapsed and died.
Andy Duffy suffered a suspected fatal heart attack at his London home
just hours after attending his sister’s wedding reception.
The death of the well-respected chairman of the London-based Tir Chonaill
Gaels club stunned the GAA world in Britain.
Staff at his Duffy Group construction firm were also in a state of shock
this week as news of the tragedy was broken to them.
Mr Duffy had returned to his house in Fulham after celebrating his sister’s
wedding at a reception at Greenford GAA club when he collapsed.
A hugely popular figure throughout the London GAA the 43-year-old devoted
much of his spare time to the promotion of underage football.
But he will perhaps be best remembered as one of the GAA’s leading
benefactors never hesitating with his sponsorship of numerous GAA causes.
Mr Duffy’s earlier involvement in London GAA was with Acton Gaels.
But his elevation to the Tir Chonaill Gaels chairmanship within two years
of joining in 2000 coincided with one of the most successful periods in
the club’s history.
A spokesperson for the club said: “Andy has been instrumental in
all levels of football from underage through to senior as well as all
aspects of the Social Club.
“He is an irreplaceable loss to the club but an even bigger loss
to his family who our thoughts are with at this difficult time.”
And former Tir Chonaill Gaels chairman Danny Keeney said: “I have
had the pleasure of knowing Andy for many years.
“When work was required to be done on Tir Chonaill Gaels Andy was
first to offer his services without hesitation.
“Andy’s loss will be immeasurable because of his huge involvement
in underage GAA.
“I know he found great pleasure in watching young boys taking up
Gaelic football and becoming established players with Tir Chonaill Gaels.”
Although London born Mr Duffy spent much of his youth at Carrigart in
his father’s native Co. Donegal before returning to Britain in his
late teens.
He became managing director of construction firm the Duffy Group after
taking on the mantle from his father John who founded the company in the
early 1960s.
A spokesman for the firm said Mr Duffy had been a major part of the Irish
community in Britain and the thoughts of everybody at the company were
with his family.
A minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect at the weekend’s
senior hurling final at Ruislip and several games scheduled to take place
on Sunday were cancelled.
The funeral Mass will take place at St. Augustine’s Church on Fulham
Palace Road in Hammersmith at 12.15pm on Monday October 23 followed by
burial at North Sheen Cemetery.
Andy is survived by his wife Junie, daughters Pamela and Claudia and son
Sean.
He is also survived by his father John, mother Eileen, sisters Fiona and
Joanna and brother Jonathan.
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