Tributes have been paid to Dublin GAA legend Brian Mullins following the announcement of his passing at the age of 68.
A legendary figure who will go down as one of the all-time greats, Brian Mullins won four All-Ireland medals with Dublin in 1974, '76, '77 and '83, as well as nine Leinster titles, two National League titles and two All-Stars.
28 August 1983; Brian Mullins, Dublin. All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final Replay, Dublin v Cork, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
The driving force in Kevin Heffernan’s Dublin side, Brian Mullins also won an incredible nine Dublin senior football championships and was part of the All-Ireland winning side of 1976 when they defeated Roscommon Gaels.
“Let the railway end go barmey,
Because hill 16, has luckily seen
the Warrior of Hefo’s army”
Brian Mullins - May he rest in peace pic.twitter.com/9A6ilLak0g— Ray Boyne (@AnalysisGaa) September 30, 2022
Mullins continued to play until his retirement in 1985, taking up the position of joint interim manager the following year. In 1996, he took charge of Derry, winning a league title in 1996, before winning an Ulster Championship in 1998, their last title before this summer’s success.
Remembering Brian Mullins
Brian Mullins legacy and achievements in the game can be seen by the shared reaction across the sporting community, showing he was not only a truly great athlete, but also a great person.
Dublin GAA are deeply saddened by the passing of Brian Mullins.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis 💙
➡️ https://t.co/N8FGclqDXf pic.twitter.com/0SETUhRZor— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) September 30, 2022
Brian Mullins RIP. Our Ulster Senior Football Championship winning manager from 1998 and an icon of Gaelic football with his native Dublin, Brian Mullins was a great friend to Derry GAA. He will be sadly missed. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal. pic.twitter.com/uPeKwkPSXw
— Derry GAA (@Doiregaa) September 30, 2022
If Heffo was the Father of Dublin football, Mullins was our heart and soul, us Dubs are quietened and saddened today with his passing. RIP Brian 🙏 https://t.co/FnpkHuZDiB
— Vinnie Murphy QFA (@Vinniedub14) September 30, 2022
💙💛 It is with deep regret that we learned of the death of our friend and colleague Brian Mullins.
Hailed as one of the greatest Gaelic footballers ever to play for Dublin, Brian was a massive champion of sport at UCD where he was appointed Director Sport in 2000. pic.twitter.com/gHPrZT4asr— University College Dublin (@ucddublin) September 30, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Brian Mullins. An absolute colossus in St Vincents. There’s so much to say about the man, and we’re all still processing this. We’ll honour him in the coming days. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
— StVincentsGAA (@StVincentsGAA1) September 30, 2022
An avid sportsman with Kerry roots, Mullins also played rugby at at an underage level, and played an interpro for the Leinster U20s against Ulster the day before he made his first Dublin appearance.
A minute's silence for Mullins preceded tonight's Dublin senior camogie final between St Vincent's and Na Fíanna.
Last year, Mullins re-united with his legendary training group at Belfield that included Kerry footballers Jack O'Shea and Mick Spillane, Mayo's Kevin McStay, and Galway All-Ireland winning hurler Brendan Lynskey.
Mullins showed in his interviews how important it was that he was respected by those around him, and how he can help those in the community.
In an interview in 2016, looking back at the legacy of the incredible Dublin side of the 70s, Brian Mullins emphasised the importance of the GAA in not only his own community, but across the country.
"I like to think that the impact that was not just big matches and the supporters that went to them. It was all those people giving back to their own small communities because they witness the effort of the team and the ambition of the team to do as well as they could. I would hope that filtered down to all levels.
I do believe at times that this country would be seriously imperilled if it wasn't for the GAA, their clubs, and the spirit of community that the games have delivered all over the place.”
