FAI pays respects to the late Breffni Rowan

The Football Association of Ireland has passed on its condolences to the family and friends of long serving volunteer Breffni Rowan, who passed away after illness this week.

Breffni was recently honoured at the FAI AGM for his contribution to football over many decades in various roles.

The following tribute was paid to him at the FAI Volunteer of the Year Awards:

'Around Athlone, and Dundalk, Breffni Rowan needs no introduction but there can’t be many within football in Ireland who have not encountered him at some stage. He has devoted a lifetime of service at every level to the game he loves. He has been a player, a coach, a referee and an administrator.

'He helped found Bay United Football Club in Dundalk, the Athlone and District Schoolboys/Schoolgirls League and the Midland Branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society and was also a major driver of coach education within the Midlands. He has been major influence on football over the past 60 years.'

FAI CEO John Delaney passed on the respects of the Irish football family to Mr Rown. 'Breffni was a great football man and I was really delighted to acknowledge his fantastic contribution to the game at all levels at the recent FAI Volunteer awards. He was always a warm individual who was a very positive character whenever we met with him.'

Mr Rowan was also a local representative and served on Athlone's Urban District Council as an Independent from 1985. Along with the late Pat 'Cisco' Flynn, who died in June this year, he coached the only Athlone Town team ever to win the FAI Youths Cup in 1984.

The funeral arrangements for the late Breffni Rowan are as follows: Reposing in Flynn’s Funeral Home from 5.30pm to 8pm this evening (Friday). Requiem mass on Saturday 9th August at 11am in SS Peters & Pauls Church with burial afterwards at Coosan Cemetery. House private.

May he Rest in Peace.