TRIBUTES continued to flood social media yesterday following the death of Dunloy chairman James McLean who leaves a “tremendous hole” at the north Antrim club.
James, who lost his battle with cancer, will be fondly remembered in GAA circles the length and breadth of Antrim and Ulster.
In his youth, he won a minor championship with the Dunloy hurlers in 1971before enjoying a great playing career with the club’s seniors and Antrim in the 1970s and 80s which included Ulster appearances.
He played in the 1976 senior county championship final, which Dunloy lost to Rossa – and while he enjoyed a coaching stint with the club’s U21 hurlers, James flourished as a GAA administrator in the county.
He held the North Antrim chairmanship with distinction for five years and was also Ulster delegate for a time. He refereed at all levels in his post-playing days and held the roles of club secretary and chairman at his beloved Cuchullain’s club.
“James was a great rulebook man,” said his friend and Dunloy cultural officer Jimmy Gaston.
“He was probably the best man in our club for the rulebook. He was a straight-talker. He would have had his point and stuck with it. He was a good debater too."
Jimmy added: “James leaves a tremendous hole behind. He was always a man you could turn to.”
A sales rep for most his working life, James had recently retired and planned on spending more time with his beloved wife Bernie at their holiday home in Donegal.
The Cuchullain’s club yesterday tweeted: ‘As a club we are devastated on the passing of our chairman James. Chairman was one of many roles James had at the club over the years and he will be sorely missed by everyone around Pearse Park. We offer our deepest sympathies to all the McLean family circle. James RIP.”
James is survived by his wife Bernie, sons Dario, Brian and Alan and daughters Orlagh and Alisha.
