Sad passing of former IRFU President

Date Published: 30-Dec-2009

FORMER Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) President Bobby Deacy, who passed away at his Galway home on Monday, was one of the key figures to oversee the transformation of the game into the professional era in the mid-1990s.

Deacy served as Honorary Treasurer of the IRFU from 1987 to 1996 and played an influential role in ensuring a smooth transition when the game turned professional in 1995.

He was honoured with the Presidency of the IRFU in 1996-7, becoming only the eighth Connacht man to take on the role.

Widely regarded as one of the sport’s most significant officers during an era of seismic change, Deacy was still central to the IRFU’s planning up to his death this week as he chaired the committee which oversaw ticketing arrangements for the new Lansdowne Road.

Deacy took a huge delight in serving as President of the Union and the one regret among his wide circle of friends is that he did not live to see the opening of the nearly completed Aviva Stadium.

He cut his teeth as a rugby administrator when serving as Secretary and Treasurer with his beloved Galwegians, after his playing days came to an end.

He was Secretary of the Connacht Branch from 1975 to 1981, before serving as President in 1985-6.

In his 69th year, Deacy died suddenly but peacefully at his home in Woodstock, on the Moycullen Road, on Monday.

He was a regular at Galwegians, Connacht, and Ireland games until last month and travelled extensively due to his roles with both the Connacht Branch, with whom he was still a Trustee, and the IRFU at a national level.

“He was very well-known throughout the country and was recognised everywhere as one of the most able administrators the game of rugby ever produced,” said Connacht Branch CEO Gerry Kelly this week.

“Nationally, in his time as IRFU Treasurer, he was recognised as a man who turned the organisation around and paved the way for Irish rugby to enter the professional era.”

Health issues had seen Deacy restrict his administrative activities in recent years, but he was honoured when the IRFU asked him to come on board to sort out ticketing arrangements for the new stadium in Dublin.

A co-founder of Deacy and Concannon accountants, Eyre Square, (now Deacy and Associates), he is survived by his wife, Ann; daughter, Edith; son, Norman; daughter-in-law Lorraine, and grandchildren Robert, James, Matthew, and Natasha; brothers Norman (Galway) and John (Claremorris), sister Josephine, cousins and a wide circle of friends.