The passing of Dublin and UCD GAA stalwart Dave Billings was announced on Wednesday morning, April 15th.
Billings (63), who played hurling and football for Kevin Heffernan’s legendary Dublin team in the 1970s, died suddenly on the morning of April 15th. He, appropriately, enjoyed his last evening at a hurling game between St. Vincent’s and Ballyboden St. Enda’s in UCD.
The St. Vincent’s club man has been hailed as a ‘Sky Blue legend’, ‘a great Gael’ and ‘an evangelist of Gaelic games’ by those whose lives and careers he touched. He had been working as Gaelic Games Executive at UCD and has also recently been part of the Dublin Senior Football setup as a selector under Tommy Lyons and Paul Caffrey.
A statement from An Comhairle Ardoideachais read as follows:
“It is with shock and deep sadness Comhairle Ardoideachais (CA), and all those involved in Higher Education GAA (HE GAA), learned of the untimely passing of Dave Billings (UCD GAA). A stalwart of the Dublin GAA scene and the Higher Education GAA sector throughout his life as a player, student, team mentor and administrator, Dave will be sorely missed throughout the GAA community.
“In his role as UCD GAA Executive, Dave made an invaluable contribution to the association on the Belfield Campus and was immersed in the running of all the University’s sides, from the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon teams to the Junior and Fresher C teams. On many occasions he accommodated the use of the University’s facilities to CA, HE Clubs, GAA Clubs, Post Primary and Primary Schools, often at extremely short notice.
“Comhairle Ardoideachais, on behalf of all those involved in Higher Education GAA, would like to extend our condolences to Ann, the Billings family, all those involved with UCD, St.Vincents, Dublin GAA and his many friends.
“As a mark of respect, the Annual Convention of Comhairle Ardoideachais, which was scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”
Tributes poured in from across the world of Gaelic games and beyond, with Tomás “Mossy” Quinn, Brian O’Driscoll and Marty Morrissey among other prominent personalities sharing their experiences with the late Billings on social media.
May he rest in peace.
Aidan Geraghty
Image credit: Sportsfile
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