DECEASED MEMBERS 

Throughout the history of any organisation, be it sporting or otherwise there will always be people who leave their mark on the club and live long in the memories of those associated with them.

Below we mention just a few of the most distinguished past members of the St Brendan's who have past away and thank them for their service to the club.

Gene Callaghan

A born motivator, Cork man Eugene (Gene) was one of the founding members of the club in 1956. He was the initial secretary of the club, a position he held for ten years.

Gene worked tirelessly to promote all aspects of Irish life and was also a founding member of the Hillingdon Irish Society. He held the position of Life President of the club at the time of his death in the late 1980’s.

Pat Gaffney.

Served as Chairman of the club from 1969 to 1971 after his own playing career was cut short by a knee injury. His brother Tommy, who now lives in Sligo was also a long-serving player with the club and played from 1956 to 1968.

Pat sadly lost his life in a building site accident.

Owen Hamilton

From Latton in Co Monaghan, Owen was the reserve goalkeeper to the excellent Johnnie Dowling, son of Martin Dowling, one of the founder members of the club and its first Chairman.

John Joe Minehan

One of the legendary goalkeepers of London, who earned a place on the London team of the century in 1996. Originally from Kerry John Joe played most of his football with the Naomh Mhuire club, who were one of the strongest teams in London in the 1950’s. 

John Joe played in three Junior All-Ireland Finals with London, unfortunately losing all of them. He joined the Brendan's late on in his playing career and is still regarded as one of the best goalkeepers the club has had. John Joe died suddenly when on holidays in Ireland. In the early 1990’s St Brendan's, St Clarets and St Josephs (another of John Joe’s former clubs) organised an annual tournament in his memory.

Andy Donnelly

Joined the St Brendan's when he arrived in London from his native Galway, with whom he had already won an All-Ireland minor medal. A player of the highest quality he was always renowned for his work rate and effort. 

In 1974 he joined St Joseph's and played in the 1977 Intermediate Final against St Brendan's, alongside his brother Michael, which the Brendan's won 1-10 to 0-4. Andy died in Galway in 2001.

Dick Munnelly

Mayo man Dick joined the club in 1968 and was a regular on the team for four years. He won a special Intermediate League medal with the club in 1970, when they beat the Geraldines at Brookside Road in the final. The following year the Brendan's went Senior for the first time and Dick was part of the team.

He transferred to Parnells in 1972, with whom he remained loyal to until his sudden death at the age of 50.Ever the sportsman, Dick regularly togged out for the Parnells right up to his untimely death in 1999.

Brian Murray

A very talented footballer who progressed from the underage structure of St Brendan's GFC. Played at all levels with the club whilst also having the distinction of representing London at U-16, U-18 and U-21 Levels.

Son of former St Brendan's great Ray Murray, now with and manager of Hendon Gaels as are his two brothers Alan and John who were also prominent players with St Brendan's underage squads.

Brian died suddenly in December 1989 aged 20. 

Robert Lee

London born Robert was one of an exceptional crop of young players produced by the club throughout the 1980s and 1990s. An outstanding sportsman, who excelled at both Gaelic and Rugby, Robert died tragically in the summer of 2000. 

During his time with the club he represented them at various age levels and had made a number of appearances for the senior team as well. His parents Bob and Janet are still very active, hard working members of the club, and Janet has also been a long serving officer of the London Minor Board. 

Robert’s brother-in-law Joe Stack was a member of the 1994 Senior Championship winning team.

Denis McCarthy.

Better known in more recent years as one of the driving forces behind the emergence and survival of the St Clarets, Denis joined the Brendan's from Naomh Mhuire at the same time as goalkeeper John Joe Minehan. Although in what would be considered the twilight of his career, Denis served the club for a few years before turning his attention to the development of the under-age system in the club. Thanks to Denis, Mel Tighe, Mick O’Shea and Tom Mythem, players such as Denis McCarthy jr., Kevin Gilmartin, Denis Diggins, Paul Traynor and Mark Mellett emerged from the Hayes area and played a major role in the successes of clubs like St Brendan's, St Clarets and Parnells.

When St Clarets formed, Denis along with several other notable members of the Brendan's switched allegiances to the Botwell based team, although Denis remained a friend of the club ever since.

Denis, who played for both Wicklow and Kerry as well as appearing for London for many years also had a long a distinguished career as an officer of the London Minor Board.

Denis sadly passed away in March 2005.

Sean Kennedy.

Haling from the Gaeltacht district of Co. Kerry, Sean joined St Brendan's GFC in 1968. A playing member of the team that won the Special Intermediate Winter League, defeating Geraldines at Brookside Road, Hayes in December 1969, by virtue of which the club got its first taste in the following year of London Senior football.  

In 1972 the club having reverted to the Intermediate Grade, Sean, on the back of an excellent and very creditable performance against Geraldines in the Championship, received the 'Irish Post' Player of the Week profile. Sean was a clever, string and very reliable corner back who never ever compromised on any occasion. Indeed if any of his team mates were not achieving their usual standard, Sean would give them a verbal blast 'as Gaelige'. He was a fluent Irish speaker.  

Sean opted to join St Joseph's, Ealing, exiting St Brendan's club alongside the Keenan and Donnelly brothers around 1974. Employed in construction, he was a site manager with the firm of PC Harrington for many years. Needless to say, Sean used his clout to benefit any aspiring footballer by the way of employment. 

Lately, he derived a livelihood from fishing the coastal waters of his native Dingle. 

A proud uncle of Dara O Cinneide of present Kerry fame, following both the fortunes of the Gaeltacht club team and the Kerry County team when he could. Sean died in Dingle after a relatively short illness, borne bravely, on Saturday 26th November 2005, aged 60 years. 

Ar Dheis De Go Raibh A Anam Dilis.