The late Amby Fogarty: a tribute from Athlone GAA
Athlone GAA has paid tribute to the late Amby Fogarty, describing him as “a great footballer” and “an exceptional clubman”.
The heartfelt tribute from the Athlone GAA executive, players and members is as follows:
“It is with profound sadness and the heaviest of hearts that Athlone GAA mourns the sudden passing of our dear friend, fellow Executive member, former player, coach and treasured clubman, Amby Fogarty.
“There are some people whose contribution to a club can be measured in championships won, matches played and years of service. And then there are those whose contribution goes far beyond anything that could ever be recorded. Amby Fogarty was one of those people.
“For more than four decades, Amby was part of the very heartbeat of Athlone GAA. His passing has left an enormous void in our club, our community and in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
“Amby's journey with Athlone GAA began in the early 1980s, and he went on to become one of the club's most accomplished footballers. A winner of two Under-21 county titles and three Senior County Championships in 1988, 1991 and 1998, Amby was a proud and hugely successful representative of Athlone GAA. A footballer of immense ability, determination and commitment, his achievements on the field will forever be part of the proud history of our club.
“But as remarkable as his playing career was, it was perhaps what Amby gave to Athlone GAA after hanging up his boots that truly defined the man. Amby understood something that lies at the very heart of the GAA: that a club is about far more than football. It is about people, belonging, friendship, community and giving something back. And Amby gave back in abundance.
“For so many of our youngest members, Amby will forever be remembered as the man with the lollipops. Every Sunday morning, there he was, a familiar and welcoming face at his lotto and lollipop stall, greeting children and families as they arrived at the club. With his friendliness and genuine interest in every child, he made each one feel welcome and important.
“For our underage kids, a Sunday morning at Athlone GAA simply wasn't complete without seeing Amby. It was through these small gestures, repeated week after week and year after year, that he helped create the sense of belonging that makes a club feel like home. What a remarkable legacy to leave behind.
”And Amby never forgot our very youngest members, the Cubs. Even though they were the only group training on Saturday mornings, Amby would go out of his way to make a special appearance, ensuring that every little Cub got their lollipop too. It was such a simple gesture, but one that spoke volumes about the kind of man he was. From the smallest children taking their first steps onto a football pitch to the oldest members who remembered his playing days, everybody knew Amby. Few people could claim to have touched so many generations of a club in quite the way he did.
“Amby also played an instrumental role in the revival and growth of our Mothers & Others initiative. Through his encouragement and genuine interest, he helped create an environment where women of all abilities and experience could make friends, gain confidence and feel part of Athlone GAA. His approach to coaching reflected the very best of the GAA. It was never simply about football; it was about the people playing it.
“When Amby stepped away from coaching last year, he left behind a thriving and growing group, a lasting testament to his commitment and the positive difference he made to so many women in our club.
“His dedication didn't stop at coaching. Through his work promoting our club lotto, Amby helped raise over €100,000 for Athlone GAA, funding that has made an invaluable contribution to the running and development of our club and its facilities. It was the kind of work that rarely made headlines, but Amby understood how important it was. Week after week, year after year, he simply got on with it. That was Amby. No fuss. No fanfare. Just an extraordinary commitment to doing his bit for the club he loved.
“In 2024, his remarkable service was recognised when he was named Beko Clun Champion award (organised by Leinster GAA), an honour that reflected not only the breadth of his contribution but the enormous respect and affection in which he was held.
“As a member of our Club Executive, Amby continued to give generously of his time, experience and energy, always with the best interests of Athlone GAA at heart. Amby's kindness and generosity extended far beyond Athlone GAA. He had a great ability to recognise when someone needed a helping hand, and he was never found wanting. Whether it was a friend, a neighbour or someone simply going through a difficult time, Amby was there, quietly offering whatever support he could.
"He never sought recognition or thanks, and much of what he did for others will never be widely known. He was simply the kind of man who wouldn't see someone struggling. For those fortunate enough to have experienced his kindness, it will never be forgotten.
“To describe Amby simply as a great clubman would somehow seem inadequate. He was the embodiment of everything that makes the GAA special. Perhaps that is why his loss is so difficult to comprehend. When somebody has been part of a club for so long, giving so freely and contributing in so many ways, you almost take for granted that they will always be there. That there will always be another Sunday morning. Another conversation. Another training session. Another chance to say thank you. Today, we are left with the heartbreaking realisation that those ordinary moments were far more precious than we ever knew.
“Amby gave Athlone GAA some of its proudest days on the football field. But his greatest achievement was the difference he made to the people who walked through our gates. We will remember the footballer with pride, the volunteer with gratitude and the man with enormous affection. In his family's beautiful tribute, Athlone GAA was described as ‘Amby's third child’. Those few words speak volumes about the place our club held in his heart, and the extraordinary place he will forever hold in ours.
“To his beloved partner Maeve, his son Brian and daughter Cassie, his mother Lily, Brian's partner Nicole, Cassie's partner Eoin, his adored grandchildren Josh, Jaxon, Levi and Teagan, his sisters Anne, Elizabeth, Margaret and Geraldine, his brother Niall, Maeve's children Karen and Mark and all his extended family, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies. We also remember with affection his late father Colm Snr. and brothers Paul and Colm Jnr.
“No words can ease the heartbreak of losing someone so dearly loved, but we hope his family can take some comfort in knowing just how much Amby meant to so many people, and how deeply his loss is felt throughout the Athlone GAA community.
“To Josh, Jaxson, Levi and Teigan, your grandad took immense pride in seeing you wear the Athlone GAA colours and follow in his footsteps. Few things brought him greater joy than watching his grandchildren represent the club he loved so dearly. One of his proudest moments was earlier this summer, seeing Josh captain the Under-14 team to league glory and lift the trophy, a moment that meant the world to him. As you continue your own GAA journeys, know that your grandad's love, pride and passion for Athlone GAA will always be part of you. He was so proud of each of you, and there is no doubt he will be cheering you on every step of the way.
“Amby, you gave so much of your life to Athlone GAA. You asked for little, but you gave us more than you could ever have known. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the countless hours, the kindness, the encouragement and the friendship. Most of all, thank you for being Amby. You will be missed more than words can ever express, but you will never be forgotten. Up The Blue, Amby. One of our own, always. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”
*See here for separate including funeral details.