“It’s such a shock.”
Tributes have poured in for a GAA coach, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Louth in the early hours of St. Patrick’s Day.
Gardaí and emergency services were alerted after a pedestrian was found unresponsive on Rathmullen Road in Drogheda.
The man was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the vehicle involved failed to remain at the location.
Tributes began to pour in after the man was named locally as 42-year-old Niall McEneaney, with local counsellor Declan Power among them.
“He was just a great guy and an absolute gentleman,” Cllr Power said on Monday, speaking to The Mirror.
“To be coming home a very sociable guy out for a few pints walking home and to be hit by a car, it’s tragic. Niall was married only recently in the last four or five years to Grace. No kids.
“His family originates from Drogheda and is a lovely, lovely family. They will be just devastated at this. It’s such a shock. It’s unreal.”
Tributes paid to GAA coach killed in hit-and-run ‘seconds’ from home
Cllr Power revealed that Mr McEneaney was “a really good friend” of his, adding, “We would have played hurling together for 10 or 12 years for the local club there in Drogheda.
“It’s an absolute travesty. I met a few of the lads earlier on and they were just devastated.
“His sport, like mine, was always hurling. He had a passion for it as a player and as a coach. For the last couple of years he had been coaching Naomh Fechins hurling team and they’ve done tremendously well. He will be a huge loss to them.”
Mr McEneaney’s former club, St Nicholas GFC, shared a statement on Facebook in tribute, reading: “All at St Nicholas GFC are shocked and saddened in the terrible loss and untimely passing of Niall McEneaney (Trig).
“Niall was a former player and coach within the club and up until last year was involved with the coaching of our juvenile teams.
“We would like to offer our sincere condolences to his wife Grace and his family at this extremely difficult time. RIP”
May Niall McEneaney rest in peace.#RIP #InMemoriam pic.twitter.com/CX82HnSBW2
— Meath GAA (@MeathGAA) March 19, 2024
Louth GAA secretary Bob Doheny also paid tribute to the deceased man, saying: “Niall was a really down-to-earth fella and it’s hard to believe he has passed away.
“I played hurling with Niall with Wolfe Tones and he was a great hurler who also played for Louth. He led St Fechin’s to the last two Louth senior hurling championship titles and was a really passionate hurling man.
“On behalf of Louth GAA, I would like to extend sympathy to his family and those closest to him. He will be greatly missed and is a big loss to the Louth GAA community. He was someone who I saw as a future Louth senior hurling team manager.”
Gardaí confirmed to JOE that a Garda member in the Northwest region has been suspended from duty in relation to the Drogheda crash.
They also said that the incident did not involve either an official Garda vehicle or a member of An Garda Síochána on duty.
Header image via St. Nicholas G.F.C on Facebook.
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