'We are devastated' - Tributes paid to All Ireland winner James McHugh killed in crash

Tributes have been paid to the late James McHugh, from Bavin, Kilcar, who was tragically killed in a road traffic collision in Cavan on Monday afternoon.

James, who was 62 and worked as a network technician for the ESB, was married to Noreen and had a daughter, Emma, and a son, Eoin. Noreen, who was travelling with James at the time, was “seriously injured” according to An Garda Síochána and was air lifted to Beaumont Hospital.

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CLG Chill Cartha posted:

“We, as a club, are devastated to hear of the tragic and untimely passing of one of our own, James McHugh.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the McHugh and O'Donnell families at this time and we pray for Noreen's recovery. As a mark of respect, all club activities will be suspended until further notice. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.”

James was best known for his massive contribution to football in the north-west, playing alongside his brother Martin as Donegal won their first-ever All-Ireland SFC crown in 1992, scoring a point in the 0-18 to 0-14 win over Dublin at Croke Park.

In fact, Donegal’s opening score in that game, their first-ever All-Ireland final, came when Martin tucked over a point at Hill 16 having picked up a rebound after a shot from James had cannoned back off the crossbar.

James won the second of his two Ulster titles that year, when Donegal defeated Derry - following on from the 1990 provincial success when he made his championship debut - and was also named as an All-Star in 1992.

“I’m just broken-hearted,” Brian McEniff, Donegal’s All-Ireland-winning manager from 1992, said. “James was such a fine man. I had a great friendship with him. He is the first player from the 1992 panel we have lost - we had also lost selector Seamus Bonar.

“It is just terrible. I don’t know what to say. James had the heart of a lion. I can still remember him in Clones in the Ulster final nipping in before big Brian McGilligan and getting the ball.

“No words can say what I feel and what I feel for the family as well. It is a terrible loss for them and for the Kilcar community.”

With his native Kilcar, James was a three-time winner of the Dr Maguire Cup, as captain in 1985, in 1989 and again in 1993, when he won the man of the match award.

Having also been in charge at the Towney-based club in 2011 and 2012, he was assistant manager to Martin when they reached the final of the 2016 Donegal SFC.

James and Eoin, also a footballer with Donegal and Cill Chartha, completed a unique father-and-son combination by winning the Donegal Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta as captains 25 years apart, with Eoin skippering the side in 2024 and James lifting the trophy in 1999. Cill Chartha, with James, won the national crown in 1987, 1989, 1990 and in 1991.

James was an Ulster Minor League winner with Donegal in 1982 and played for the county’s seniors between 1990 and 1996 and again in 1998. He was also a Railway Cup winner with Ulster in 1994.

“On the field, James was ferocious in his determination,” Pauric McShea, who captained Donegal to the 1974 Ulster SFC title, said.

“Off the field in matters that did not relate to football, he was almost a little shy. One would never have known that James was the proud holder of an elusive All- Ireland medal winners' medal. That was the last thing James would have spoken about.

“The GAA in Kilcar was and is the pulse of the community. James was at the heart of his community. He was simply a very nice person, extremely likeable, and respected by all of us lucky enough to have known him.”

“James was quiet and said very little but in terms of football, he did his talking on the pitch,” Joyce McMullin, who played alongside the McHugh brothers in the half-forward line in the 1992 All-Ireland final, said.

“He was a fierce competitor and really got stuck in. He was just a really decent fella, and at times like this, football takes a back seat, and all we can do is offer our prayers for the family.”

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Pat the Cope Gallagher TD said: “It was with profound sadness and deep shock that we all learned of the death of James McHugh as a result of a tragic road accident in Cavan.

“James was an extremely talented and skilled footballer for his native Kilcar GAA Club as well as being a key part of the 1992 Donegal All-Ireland winning team. James brought total commitment and energy to the game, a skill he had in abundance, and he never pulled back from the rough and tumble of the tackle, whether that was a club or county match - he was always the professional sportsman.

“He was an exceptionally proud Kilcar man, coming from a family that gave so much to the GAA in south-west Donegal. James was a dedicated father and family man. We all wish his wife Noreen a speedy and full recovery; the McHugh and O’ Donnell families need our support and prayers at this extremely difficult time for them all.”

An Garda Síochána is appealing for witnesses following the fatal road traffic collision on the N3 at Drummallaght, between Virginia and Cavan, Co Cavan, shortly before 2pm on Monday, August 10.

“The collision involved a car and a van,” An Garda Síochána said on Monday evening. “The male driver of the car, aged in his 60s, was fatally injured in the collision. His body was removed to Cavan General Hospital.

“The female passenger, also aged in her 60s, was seriously injured and was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital for treatment. The male driver of the van, aged in his 50s, was taken to Cavan General Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

“The road remains closed at this time to facilitate an examination by Forensic Collision Investigators and local diversions are in place. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision or who was travelling on the N3 between Virginia and Cavan, particularly between 1pm and 2pm to come forward.

“Gardaí are particularly appealing to motorists who may have dashcam or other camera footage of the area during this time to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bailieborough Garda Station on 042 969 4570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”