There was a sense of an end of an era in Galway football circles in many regards last week when the news filtered through that former Galway football chairman Pat Egan had died following a long battle with illness.
Pat, who was one of the longest serving GAA officials in the country, had given a lifetime of unstinting service to Gaelic football at numerous levels of the organisation, including his club Corofin, Galway, Connacht Council and Croke Park
Pat, who lived with his family in Rusheens in the parish of Belclare, served as chairman of the Galway football board for a massive 18 years, having been vice-chairman for a decade prior to that, before stepping down in 2006.
During those years the Galway footballers won nine All-Ireland titles, including the senior titles in 1998 and 2001, three u-21 successes, a minor title, and three club senior championships - Corofin, Caltra and Salthill.
Pat was a key figure in bringing John O'Mahony on board as Galway senior team manager in the autumn of 1997 and they always enjoyed a very close working and personal relationship.
Pat along with his main football board allies at that time Miko Kelly (RIP ), John Power and John Joe Holleran took great pleasure and pride in those senior victories.
Pat was a shrewd politician, a strategist, and a man to get things done, and he was at the helm of Galway football when Ionad Peil na Gaillimhe was built at Loughgeorge.
Pat also served on the Connacht Council as a Galway delegate for almost a quarter of a century and his final role in the echelons of the GAA was at the highest level when he represented Galway as delegate on the GAA's Central Council.
He was also a well regarded and prominent referee at both club and county level, having officiated in several Connacht SFC finals. He also refereed the Galway county senior club final on four occasions in 1978, 1984, 1986 and 1989.
He was selected as the "Personality" award recipient in 2013 by the county football committee.
Pat was held in very high esteem and huge crowds sympathised with his family last Saturday at his removal in Corofin and at his funeral Mass on Sunday in Belclare church.
Pat is survived by his wife Nora, daughter Ann Marie, and sons Ulick and Noel. Requiescat in pace.
