James McHugh, the 1992 All-Ireland-winning Donegal football star, was killed in a crash in Co Cavan on Monday afternoon.
The collision, involving a car and a van, occurred on the N3 at Drummallaght shortly before 2pm.
McHugh, who was driving the car, was fatally injured in the incident and his body was removed to Cavan General Hospital.
His wife Noreen, also aged in her 60s, was seriously injured and airlifted to Beaumont Hospital for treatment.
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The driver of the van, a man in his 50s, was taken to Cavan General Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
The road was closed to facilitate an examination by Garda forensic collision investigators and local diversions are in place.
McHugh, who along with his brother Martin won an All-Ireland medal with Donegal in 1992, worked as a network technician for the ESB.
He had a daughter, Emma, and a son, Eoin.
A member of the Kilcar club, he was best known for his contribution to football in Donegal, playing alongside his brother Martin as the county won their first-ever All-Ireland SFC crown, scoring a point in the 0-18 to 0-14 win over Dublin at Croke Park.
His nephew Mark McHugh is the Westmeath football manager while his nephew Ryan plays football for Donegal.
Paying tribute, the 1992 winning manager Brian McEniff said he was “broken-hearted” at the news.
“James was such a fine man. I had a great friendship with him,” he said. “It is just terrible. I don’t know what to say. James had the heart of a lion. I can still remember him in Clones in the Ulster final nipping in before big Brian McGilligan and getting the ball.”
The chairperson of Donegal GAA Mary Coughlan said there was a dark cloud over Donegal.
“People in Donegal are heartbroken to have heard about this tragedy. I would have known the McHughs for many years in football and politics and just locally,” she told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
“James came from a small rural club that produced fantastic footballers.
“But James will be remembered, first of all, as a family man, as a Kilcar man, and then as a Donegal hero.”
Coughlan described McHugh as a quiet, modest man whom she had known since she was 11 years of age. Donegal was a close-knit community where everybody knew everybody “so, we were just heartbroken to hear of such a tragedy.”
The McHugh family had been the backbone of Donegal’s success and of Donegal football and an inspiration to a lot of the young people who are coming up now through the ranks, she added.
Sinn Féin TD for Donegal Pearse Doherty said it was “heartbreaking news that Donegal GAA great James McHugh has lost his life in a tragic accident.
“My thoughts are with his family and friends, the GAA and wider community, and all those who knew and loved him at this very difficult time. Thinking too of James’s wife Noreen, who has been injured. I pray she makes a full recovery.
“James gave so much to Donegal GAA and will be remembered with great pride and affection across the county and beyond. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
RTÉ’s GAA correspondent Marty Morrissey, a long time friend of McHugh, has spoken of his shock at hearing the news
“It’s a terrible blow. We’re all in a state of shock this morning,” he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
Morrissey described McHugh as “football royalty”, a term, he acknowledged, the former footballer would not have liked.
“The nation mourns today and sympathises and empathises with the McHugh family. And James, an absolute gentleman, a humble man, you’d never think, when you’d meet him, that he won an All-Ireland medal, that he was part of that wonderful Donegal team, that he leaves a legacy.
“Every time I spoke to James, whether it be on the phone or in person, it always went back to the community and the parish and the people (of Donegal).
“He was part of that culture. And I remember when he’d speak, he’d say to me, ‘you know, us Donegal lads, we’re very cultured. You Clare lads need to learn a cúpla focal’. And he’d give me a Donegal phrase,” he said. “I’m very proud to be friends of the McHugh family.”
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who was travelling on the N3 between Virginia and Cavan, particularly between 1pm and 2pm, to come forward.
Gardaí are particularly asking motorists who may have dashcam or other camera footage of the area during this time to make it available to them.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bailieborough Garda station on 042 969 4570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
