[2026-03-09]

Footballer, hurler, coach, mentor, selector, treasurer, trustee, president - these are some of the important roles that Seamus Nugent played to a very high standard over a lifetime of service to the GAA, initially with Athlone, and for the past 45 years with his beloved Garrycastle, the club he helped to establish along with Jack Veale, Felim Finnegan and the late Dan Hogan and Eddie Martin. Prior to the club's formation, Seamus' value as a coach and mentor became evident when he played a key role, along with schoolteacher Peadar Cleary, in helping to bring the Comórtas na mBunscoil title to Cornamaddy School in 1980. This historic success was surely a significant factor in convincing Seamus and his colleagues of the need for a new club to cater for the rapidly-expanding population in the Garrycastle and Cornamaddy areas. 

Seamus' exploits on the field of play are frequently the subject of glowing tributes from those who were lucky enough to have seen him in action, both with Athlone and Westmeath. We have to depend on the testimony of others to get some understanding of his brilliance, because Seamus himself was far too modest to talk of his undoubted skills on the field of play. In fact, he always seemed uncomfortable when listening to others singing his praises as a footballer. Seamus was a key member of the famous six-in-a-row Athlone team of the late 1950s, and it was a shattering blow to his club, and to him personally, when he sustained a very serious knee injury in a road traffic accident which ruled him out of the 1959 and 1960 finals. Showing commendable resilience, he made an amazing recovery from that injury and went on to achieve further county titles in junior hurling (1963) and senior football (1965).

That same resilience was also evident away from the football field. After taking over the local shop from his parents, Seamus initially ran the business from his newly-built bungalow in Garrycastle. Recognising that a larger premises was required to meet the needs of the expanding community, he transferred the business to a new purpose-built store which has been a vital amenity for the local area ever since. For many years the shop served as a meeting place for the Garrycastle club, where teams of all grades and ages would assemble before travelling to various venues to represent their club. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of Seamus and others, the club now has excellent facilities with its own focal point, but the importance of Seamus' contribution in various ways over many years ought never be forgotten. His legacy will endure as long as football is played in the Garrycastle area. 

Despite all his time-consuming GAA activities, and the incessant demands on his expanding business, Seamus still found time, along with his wife Bridie, to raise a family of seven children. While we mourn the loss of our colleague and friend, we extend deepest sympathy to those whose loss is far greater - his beloved Bridie, his sons Enda, Fergal, Michael and Dermot, his daughters Audrey, Denise and Brenda, his brother Pat, his sister Pauline and his extended family, especially his grandchildren who were so special to him.

We were greatly honoured and indeed humbled to have Seamus repose in Garrycastle Clubhouse last Sunday which for so many seemed the fitting way to bid farewell.

As our flags flew at half mast, club, friends and family lined the road from our grounds to the local shop synonymous with Seamus to honour the man whose vision and dedication were pivotal to the formation of Garrycastle GAA.  In the coming days and weeks we will treasure the many memories Seamus has left us, and at an appropriate time in the future the club will, in consultation with his family, devise a suitable way to honour the memory of a true Garrycastle legend. 

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Rest in peace, Seamus.