Galway football stood still this week, to mourn the loss of one of their best.
Joe Hanley may not have enjoyed the generational footballing prowess of his great friend Eamonn Deacy, but his name will endure alongside the Galway greats that he mentored and nourished.
There was an outpouring of emotion locally and nationally at the sad news of the loss of a unique and unifying figure. He was synonymous with the success of Galway United from 1983 to 1992, the halcyon period of the club.
It would be difficult to overstate Joe’s contribution. His football friends, of whom there were many, offered moving tributes, clearly affected by a deep loss.
John Byrne, a stalwart of the local and national game, remembered Joe with reverence.
“I don’t know a chairman that inspired such loyalty from players and kept that over the years. The likes of Dennis Bonner, Marty McDonald and Richie Blackmore, I don’t think they ever came to town without seeing Joe.
“He was just such a lovely man. I don’t think there was a bad bone in Joe’s body. There was a great sense of camaraderie around the committee at the time. He was a bit like evo-stik, he bound it all together. He had such a way. He hated conflict. Mind you, he was well able to hold his own in an argument, the Carnmore could come out as well! But he always saw a way around it. Joe always saw the good in people.
“He is a long time gone out it, 33 years since the FAI Cup Final. But he is still that figure associated with Galway United. Himself and Gerry Gray would be the two people most associated with Galway United. Obviously, Jonathan Corbett and John Flannery now, but when people think about Galway United, there are only a few people they think of — Joe, Gerry and Bernie [O’ Connell].
“The loyalty from the players stemmed from his day-to-day involvement, his encouragement, putting his hand in his pocket, getting fellows jobs.
“His relationship with Chick was extraordinary. The hours they spent talking. I was there the day that Galway United signed Chick over in St. John’s Terrace. You could see them bonding immediately. He had that kind of charisma. I think their selflessness made their bond even stronger. They were always thinking about other people.
“I never heard Joe Hanley speak about himself or his own achievements. He had great pride in his family. He had great pride in his friends, Carnmore GAA, Galway GAA. The last conversation I had with Joe was about Galway United. It wasn’t about him. He won’t be forgotten. There’s a generation of people that Joe never knew, but they knew Joe.”
Another totemic figure of Galway soccer, and one of United’s most successful managers, Tony Mannion, described Joe as a ‘visionary and a doer’.
“People don’t realise or appreciate how much he did for Galway from a business and a sports perspective. Where he is probably best remembered is Galway United. Even at that, Joe always shunned the limelight.
“The amount of work he did, and the contribution he made, was enormous. The soccer community in the west of Ireland, and Ireland, owe him a debt of gratitude for what he did.
“Joe’s real talent was the relationships he would build up with people and the trust. Anyone that was involved with Galway United, they had Joe’s 100% support. Traditionally, directors and chairmen didn’t have that big connection with players, coaches and supporters, but Joe was the exception. Joe was friends with everyone.
“Joe was a very successful businessman. But the amount of time and energy he devoted to Galway United was phenomenal. Joe was unique, in that he was hands-on. When Joe was involved, he was involved 100%.
“Because of his leadership style, he brought people with him. If you look at the committee he formed, there were some fantastic people who gave huge service to Galway United.
“A lot of players that come to football clubs, it is transient. A lot of them are mercenaries. They don’t build up that relationship with owners, but you did with Joe. People who came from outside, who had seen other clubs, they were amazed at the relationship that Joe had with the people and the support he gave them.
“Mattie Greaney was a big support to him. He did it in the background. Joe was hands-on. He was in the trenches. He knew the game and he knew what was going on. He knew what needed to be done.
“He saw potential, like he did in business. He had the vision and the energy, drive and ability to make things happen. A lot of people have dreams, but to bring them to fruition is another day’s work. He succeeded in that.”
Former chairman Bernie O’ Connell also spoke glowingly about a man he held in the highest of esteem.
“Joe had a great relationship with players in that era, they became really good friends with Joe. He had an ability to get on with people, they had the greatest regard for him.
“The thing about the committee of Joe’s era, was that it was a great band of workers. Joe was the principal benefactor and underpinned the costs, but he managed to assemble a great committee that worked really hard.
“Three European journeys began and ended in his time. Since we won the cup, we’ve never been back in Europe. He was the principal figure. People could go back to him and ask for advice. He never rang people to tell them what to do but he was a great touchstone.
“He was very loyal to people. If you were his friend, he was always there for you. He would always back you. There was great goodness about him.
“Himself and Mattie brought in a lot of the GAA community in. That divide between the GAA and soccer melted a lot when Joe was there because he was from a Carnmore background. After he left United, he was a selector on a Carnmore team that got to a Galway SHC Final.
“There was a spirit and joy about going to matches that in many respects we are still trying to reclaim. The mid-80s team, the team that won the League Cup in 1986 and finished second in the league, that was the best team we had.
“He wanted to drive the club, but he didn’t want it to seem as though it was about him. He was very generous to people. He appointed people to roles, but he was there for them. People remained loyal to him and there were great friendships formed.
“He was a great person with great personal qualities in terms of his loyalty and kindness. There was great regard for him. That translated over all aspects of Galway life. He was a very giving and caring person who inspired people. The leadership qualities he had were unparalleled in the club.”
Football administration is often seen as a thankless task. Yet, Galway united this week to show gratitude to a man who gave so much. There was little personal gain in his involvement for Joe, and yet the tributes his contributions inspired will hopefully help to sustain those closest to him in the tough times ahead.
Joe Hanley’s legacy is secured, his rest earned, his impact immense.
