Derry County Chairman pays tribute to Harry Gribbin - the 'epitome of GAA volunteer'

Harry, who passed away on Tuesday following a short illness, won championships as both player and manager with Newbridge during some of the most successful periods in the O'Leary's history.

"The sheer number of tributes from across Derry and Ireland shows the esteem in which Harry was held, " explained the County Chairman, "No job was too big or too small for Harry. He did it all. He was the very epitome of a GAA volunteer, serving his club and county throughout almost his entire life."

Harry had played at minor level with Antrim, with whom he won an Ulster minor football medal in 1950 while working in Belfast, but his transfer back to Newbridge heralded to beginning of a lifelong association with his beloved O'Leary's, winning a McGlinchey Cup medal in 1954 and the Derry Senior Championship in 1955 despite Harry being forced to miss the final against Dolan's. He continued playing until the late '60s when, aged 37, he finally hung up his boots, but his impact on the Derry GAA landscape had only just begun.

Managing the Newbridge senior team was a natural step and he guided the O'Leary's to the 1970 Derry senior crown having been part of Tommy Doherty's backroom team that claimed a hat-trick of titles in the '60s and Harry's managerial nous was soon being utilised at county level.

He had various management roles with the Derry minors, Under 21s and the senior team, famously playing a key role as one of Eamon Coleman's selectors when Derry won their only All Ireland senior football title in 1993. That success was Gribbin's second All Ireland title, having helped guide the Oak Leaf minors to success in 1983 and he would later manage the U21s to All Ireland success in 1997.

The Newbridge man has also had a long and outstanding spell in administration, at club, county, provincial and national level. He was Chairman of the O'Leary's for 19 years, having previously spent a decade as club treasurer and was later named Club President. At county level, he has performed almost every role over the years and was the Derry Board's representative on both the Ulster Council and Central Council.

"Derry GAA are saddened to learn of the passing of Harry Gribbin," read a County Board statement, "Throughout almost the entirety of his nine decades, Harry spent his time devoted to and immersed in the GAA of his club and county. Ten years as his club's treasurer was followed by 19 years as chairman. A man for whom no task was too big or too small, Harry carried with him at all times an unshakeable belief in Derry and Newbridge GAA - what they stood for, what they had achieved and could achieve again.

"A successful manager with his club, selector with the '83 All-Ireland winning Derry minors, the '93 immortals and manager of the '97 All-Ireland U21 Champions, Harry Gribbin was a Derry GAA legend for the ages.

"Our community bids him farewell with the same spirit as he ended his club's Golden Jubilee book of 1975: 'And so we have told our story, of the good times and the bad, of success and failure...of those who followed in the footsteps of their fathers in keeping a tradition alive.'

"May God bless you, Harry. Doire Abu."

Those sentiments were echoed in a club statement which said Harry leaves behind a great legacy with his beloved Newbridge.

"It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the death of one of our club and county's longest serving members, Harry Gribbin," said the Newbridge statement

"Harry is the current President of Newbridge club and had a long and successful involvement with both club and county, being involved in several underage and Senior Club Championship titles with Newbridge, and being part of the Management with County Minor, Under 21 and Senior All-Ireland successes with Derry.

"A life-long gael he has left behind a great legacy for his family and fellow club members.

"Please keep him in your prayers as he goes on to his next match in heaven."

Former Derry PRO, Chris McCann, who served with Mr Gribbin on the Derry County Board, described him as "dedicated" to the Oak Leaf cause.

"(I was) Very sad to hear of the passing of @doiregaa stalwart Harry Gribbin," said Mr McCann on Twitter, "I was lucky enough to serve on the County Board with Harry. He was as dedicated a GAA man as you could hope to meet. My condolences to his family and friends and all at @NewbridgeCLG."