Ireland

Tributes paid to Limerick GAA supporter John Hunt

Mr Hunt (98) travelled 6,000 miles to see Limerick win Liam McCarthy cup in 2018

Limerick supporter John Hunt (right) visits Croke Park with his grandson, Edward, before last year’s All Ireland final. Photograph: Tom Sheehy/Limerick Hurling Club, Chicago
David Raleigh
Sun Mar 31 2019 - 19:13

Tributes have been paid to a Limerick GAA supporter, John Hunt, who has died in the United States two years shy of his 100th birthday.

Mr Hunt (98), captured the hearts of GAA fans last summer after he journeyed 6,000 miles from his adopted home in Chicago to Croke Park to see his beloved Limerick bring Liam MacCarthy back on Shannonside after 45 years.

Eighty-two years previously, the Athea native had witnessed his beloved Treaty county defeat Kilkenny in the 1936 final.

After emigrating to the US he became a founding member of the Limerick Hurling Club Chicago, and was it’s first chairperson in 1959.

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Mr Hunt, who had lived in the US for the past 70 years, joined thousands in Limerick city for the hurlers homecoming celebrations and appeared on the Late Late Show where he fulfilled his dream of lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Holding the trophy on the Late Late Show last August he joked with host Ryan Tubridy: “If St Peter gets me at the gate (of heaven) I couldn’t be happier now they’ve won that cup.”

Chicago GAA expressed its condolences to the Hunt family via a tweet, adding: “With deep sadness we regret to inform you of the passing of a true GAA legend, John Hunt.”

“We extend our sincerest and deepest sympathies to his entire family and friends on their great loss. May he Rest In Peace”.

On Facebook the Limerick Hurling Club Chicago also paid tribute to “the Great John Hunt”.

Mr Hunt became a magnet for GAA fan selfies after his appearance on television during last year’s coverage of the All-Ireland hurling championship.

Fans have been reposting their selfies with Mr Hunt across social media.

Limerick man Eoghan Murphy, living in Chicago, tweeted: “RIP John Hunt.what a character. Hes love for hurling ,Gaa & limerick was infectious. #uplimerick”.

Limerick GAA County Board Chairman John Cregan also tweeted a selfie with Hunt and wrote: "Rest in peace John, Thank's for your Support #LimerickCLG".

Mr Hunt’s funeral will take place later next week in Chicago.