𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗔𝗔 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗲

An outstanding footballer and wing back, he was one of the heroes on the 0ffaly team that won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship for the first and only time in 1964. Amazingly, he was still U-16 in 1964, and played minor for a further two years, winning a second Leinster medal in 1965.

He quickly progressed to the U-21 county team and was a prominent figure on the Offalv team that won the Leinster championship and reached the All-Ireland final in 1968. Unfortunatelv, he was to play an unwanted decisive role in that final against Derry and his controversial first half dismissal was a major turning point and one of the big factors in Offaly’s 3-9 to 1-9 defeat. Even to this day, his fellow playing colleagues and spectators are adamant that he was wrongly sent off, Even at an early stage a senior inter county career was inevitable. and so it came to pass.

He soon established himself on the Offaly senior football, making his debut against Wicklow as a 19 year old in October 1967. He won his first Leinster senior medal in 1969, before losing to Kerry in the All-Ireland final on a 0-10 to 0-7 scoreline. He was subsequently crowned as Texaco footballer of the year and received the distinction of belong the only nominee for an All-Star award in his half back position. Offaly achieved the mantle of greatness retaining the Sam Maguire Cup in 1972, and he was again a crucial figure. Ironically, Offaly hammered Kerry All-Ireland final replay despite two key figures going off injured on the day, today’s honouree and Johnny Cooney.

He won a fourth Leinster senior football medal in 1973 but Offaly’s ambitions of three in a row were disappointingly ended by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Offaly went into decline as that great team broke up but our Hall of Fame recipient Eugene McGee and won a fifth Leinster senior medal in 1980. His last Championship continued to perform at a high and he was there for the second coming under game was against Kerry in the 1980 All-Ireland semi-final of 1980.

He was also a tremendously dedicated servant to his club Rhode and with the exception of minor, he won club medals at all levels.

He won 4 Senior Football Championship medals captaining the side in 1969 and was a leader on and off the field. His retirement from playing was by no means the end of his love affair with the GAA. Indeed it was just a new beginning.

Initially, he became involved in administration and he was PRO when Offaly won the All-Ireland title in 1982. It was inevitable that he would gravitate towards the training fields and he proved to be a very successful trainer, He was involved with a number of club teams but his greatest achievement was when he managed Rhode to the county title in 1998 – their first title since 1975 and cemented his place in Village folklore.

He was part of a three man Offaly senior football management team in 1995 and 1996. An indication of his commitment to the future development of football in the Parish was, in 2005 he was part of the two man management team that led Rhode to the U-14 football title.

In more recent times Eugene has continued his dedicated commitment to all aspects of activity in his club, including filling the role of Chairperson in 2023 and 2024 and is one of the driving forces behind the current development in the club, being was hugely involved in the recent fundraising event which raised over €300,000 for the development fund.

In a glittering playing career with Offaly, Eugene made 13 Championship appearances at Minor level, 10 at U21 and 76 League and 41 Championship appearances at Senior level.

legend in Rhode and Offaly, one of life’s Gentlemen, Eugene Mulligan is a worthy inductee into the Leinster GAA Hall of Fame.