Eamon Deacy, who won four Irish caps and was one of just 14 players used by Aston Villa when it won the English Football League championship in 1981, has died in his native Galway City.
He suffered a heart attack on Monday of last week. Deacy began his pro career with Limerick FC and he went on to play for Villa in their European Cup-winning campaign in 1981/82.
He played for a time with Derby County, on loan from Villa, before moving back to line out for Galway United in the latter part of his career.
President Michael D. Higgins attended the removal last week and he was represented at the funeral by his aide-de-camp Commandant Michael Walsh.
Fr. Dick Lyng said that in his 30 years' experience of officiating funerals, he had never seen so many pay their respects. "It was his decency and his downright humility," he said, quoting a Connaught Tribune photographer. "He was a decent guy and that's why they are here."
Deacy, who was 53, is survived his wife Mary O'Connor, son Jake and daughter Dawn, and a large family of brothers and sisters.
