Death of former Walterstown and Meath GAA manager, Mick O'Brien

The death occurred yesterday afternoon of Michael - 'Mick - O'Brien, the former Walterstown and Meath football manager.

Aged 83, Mick, from Johnstown, died at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, having been resident in Millbury Nursing Home, Navan, in recent times.

Mick O'Brien trained Walterstown to five Meath senior football championship titles between 1978 and 1984, and two Leinster senior club championship titles, in 1980 and '83. Feis Cups, league titles, U21, minor and many more juvenile accolades came to the Blacks under his stewardship.

He was a member of the first ever Walterstown championship winning team back in 1961 when they took the honours in the Meath Junior B Championship, and was on the Meath side that claimed Leinster and All-Ireland titles in 1967 and, along with fellow clubman Pat Reynolds, toured Australia with the Royals in ’68.

Mick O'Brien was a selector with the Meath minor team in 1972; coached Meath to a National Football League title in 1975; trained Meath to All Ireland Junior Championship success in 1988; was Meath GAA’s Leinster Council delegate for 18 years; was involved in the formation of the juvenile section of his club in 1964.

He was succeeded as Meath GAA manager in 1982 by Sean Boylan.

Mick O'Brien was a man who was never afraid to voice his opinion at County Board meetings and was a Meath GAA president, as well as president of Meath Cumann na mBunscol.

A keen GAA historian, he wrote books on Walterstown GFC, and one on the Pairc Tailteann grounds, as well as the early story of Meath GAA, 'Royal and Loyal'.

Son of the late Margaret and Christopher O'Brien, Mick was predeceased by his brother, Aidan, and nephew, Ronan. He is survived by his brothers, Sean, Dermot, Oliver, and Eamon, sisters Margaret and Betty, extended family, friends in the GAA community, neighbours and friends.

Mick is reposing at St Joseph’s Chapel of Rest, Old Johnstown, Navan (C15 C425) on Thursday, 30th April from 4pm followed by removal at 6.30pm to arrive at the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady, Johnstown, for evening prayers at 7pm. Funeral Mass on Friday morning at 11am. Burial afterwards in St Mary’s Cemetery, Boyne Rd, Navan.

Click to read the late Noel Coogan's interview with Mick O'Brien for the Hogan Stand