Offaly stunned at sudden death of long time GAA stalwart

THERE are times when news of a death shocks you to the core and Tuesday was one of those days as word began to emerge of the sudden passing of a hugely popular Bracknagh man Paul Dempsey.

Just 50 years of age, Paul Dempsey died suddenly at work early on Tuesday morning – he worked as a courier with Fastways and his shockingly premature passing has devastated his family, friends and the wider community.

He was much loved and respected in his own area and parish and was known far outside Bracknagh. A personable, very genuine, decent man, he was great company and lived life to the full – working hard, devoted to his family and immersing himself in his local community, especially Bracknagh GAA Club.

The Dempsey's are one of Bracknagh's most cherished and popular families and they have been part and parcel of the local GAA Club for generations.

Paul Dempsey epitomised all that was good about them. He was a very dedicated, committed and solid footballer during his own playing career, playing underage in the 1980s and then adult throughout the 1990s and on into the 2000s.

The highlight of his club career came in 2000 when Bracknagh won the Intermediate Football Championship title. He was rock solid at full back for them and the team also included three of his brothers, Aidan, Dermot and Pascal. He played mostly at full back or on the full back line and was a good, no nonsense defender. He was tough, he played the game cleanly but didn't hold anything back and he was also good on the ball, well able to find his man and move upfield.

He also played in goals towards the end of his career, as well as earlier on. Paul Dempsey played in the defence for Offaly junior footballers for a number of years in the early to mid 1990s and he greatly enjoyed that experience. At that time, Offaly could only field players from junior and intermediate clubs and those players got tremendous enjoyment and pride out of playing for the county.

They gave it everything they had and they had a few great years. Those teams included players from all across the county and they built up a bond and friendship that lasted for years. They also developed a great connection with supporters with members of clubs getting behind their players and getting great enjoyment from seeing them in an Offaly jersey. They played some great games, had some great wins and the highlight was reaching the Leinster Junior Football Championship final in 1995, where Meath proved too strong in Pairc Tealteann – Offaly did win the Leinster JFC in 1998 and 2001 but were allowed to field their second best team by then.

While he lived near Portarlington in recent years, Paul Dempsey remained a fiercely proud and committed Bracknagh and Offaly man. He continued to serve his club with great diligence. He was a selector when they beaten by Durrow in the Senior “B” Football Championship final in 2017, he was a selector with their junior “C” football team this year and was also part of David Connolly's backroom staff with their seniors, helping out on match days and elsewhere. I met him before and after a couple of Bracknagh's games this year and he was his usual friendly, sociable self, engaging in chat and expressing honest opinions about their prospects or the result.

He was very proud when Bracknagh reached the quarter-finals of the Senior Football Championship this year, where they were well beaten by Ferbane. He was also very proud when his nephew Fionn Dempsey was on the Offaly side that won the All-Ireland U-20 Football Championship in 2021, playing very well in the defence.

His passion for Offaly and Bracknagh GAA was obvious to anyone that met him. As a Bracknagh man, he grew up close to Rathangan and Kildare and he fully engaged himself in the rivalry that is part and parcel of life in border hotbeds – he enjoyed the banter that was an essential part of this, making the most of it when Offaly had wins over the Lilywhites and accepting the opposite side of the coin with grace when results went wrong.He took a great interest in the St Broughan's underage club and clubs across the north Offaly area, congratulating them when they won anything.

One of life's good guys, the GAA was only part of a life well lived. He leaves a treasure chest of good memories for all that knew him but his loss at such a young age to those closest to him is absolutely devastating.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine, daughter, Nadine and many more. His funeral details will be announced later.