'A true gentleman': Remembering Longford GAA stalwart Eugene Quaine
Eugene was a true gentleman, he was always kind and decent and rarely happier than when there was football to be talked about.
As we remember Eugene Quaine, the photographs gathered below tell their own story of a man whose life in the GAA stretched across generations, and whose contribution to Carrickedmond and Longford football went far beyond the many positions he held.
Eugene was a true Gael. He loved the game, loved being involved and loved the people he met through it.
A true gentleman, he was always kind and decent, always ready for the chat and the craic, and rarely happier than when there was football to be talked about.
A former player himself, Eugene soon developed a great taste for administration and voluntary work. His involvement stretched back to the days of St Martin’s, the Carrickedmond/Kenagh amalgamation.
He later became heavily involved with St Sinneach’s Minor Club, beginning what would become a lifelong passion for underage football in Longford. Over the years he served St Sinneach’s in a number of roles and was never far away when a team or committee needed a hand.
In 1984, Eugene joined the Carrickedmond senior club executive as Treasurer, beginning 30 years of continuous service on the committee.
He served as Treasurer from 1984 until 1991, an important period in the club’s history as Carrickedmond established its home at Michael Moran Park.
He was Secretary from 1992 to 1994, Vice-Chairman from 1995 to 2001 before becoming Chairman in 2001. Eugene held this command until 2006 as the club modernised its facilities with huge work completed on the complex.
And few days gave him greater pleasure than Carrickedmond’s Intermediate Championship triumph in 2001. As the photographs below show, Eugene, then club chairman, may well have been the happiest man in Ireland that day.
His service continued as County Board Delegate in 2007 and 2008, Treasurer once again from 2009 to 2012, and County Board Delegate in 2013 and 2014. He was subsequently appointed a Vice-President of the club, a position he held until his passing.
Titles never mattered greatly to Eugene, however. Whatever job needed doing, he did it.
He was a tireless fundraiser, an exceptional seller of lotto tickets and a great supporter of the club lotto from its earliest days.
For decades he also represented Carrickedmond as a referee, with one of the highlights of that part of his GAA life being his appointment to referee the Longford Minor Football Championship final in 2000.
Eugene also continued to take charge of Carrickedmond’s annual St Stephen’s Day charity game until recent years, refereeing it with his customary wit and character, always adding greatly to the banter and enjoyment of the occasion.
His contribution extended far beyond his home club.
Eugene was an enormous supporter of Longford football and was involved with the Longford Supporters Club, including the organisation of buses to county games during the 1990s.
He would be there with the programme rolled up tightly in his grasp, and the radio wouldn’t be too far away to stay tuned in to games elsewhere.
After a memorable Longford victory, Eugene could invariably be found out on the pitch afterwards, smiling from ear to ear, congratulating players and management and simply enjoying the moment.
Some of those happy occasions, alongside fellow Carrickedmond Gaels, are captured in the photographs below.
Croke Park was also a regular venture, where no place would do Eugene only Hill 16. The locals in Drumcondra knew him for years and would save him a parking spot before he’d take to the Hill to soak in the craic.
His first official county role came in 1996 when he became Treasurer of the Longford Minor Board, a position he held for 12 years.
In 2001 he joined the Longford County Executive as Coaching Officer, serving until 2004. He returned to the senior executive in 2008 as Youth Officer and, with that position, became Chairman of the Minor Board.
It was a particularly proud period for Carrickedmond, with Eugene chairing the Minor Board, the club simultaneously also held the senior chairmanship of Longford GAA for 4 years. Eugene was Minor Board Chairman when Longford captured the Leinster Minor Football Championship in 2010, and the delight on his face alongside the victorious team in Croke Park remains another fitting image.
He was a major figure in Longford underage football for many years and played his part behind the scenes during an era which brought two Leinster minor successes to the county.
Across those years he presented trophies to winning teams throughout Longford and took particular pleasure whenever the recipients happened to be wearing the blue and gold of Carrick Sarsfields.
In 2013, Eugene was involved in one of the more unusual County Convention elections when he and Albert Cooney finished tied in the contest for Assistant Treasurer, with the position eventually decided by the drawing of names. Eugene returned a year later and was elected Assistant Treasurer in 2014, serving for five years.
In 2019 he won another keenly contested election to become Treasurer of Longford GAA, a position he held for five years. He subsequently returned as Assistant Treasurer before taking up a Leinster Council position for 2026.
Eugene was a diligent Treasurer and an outstanding ticket seller, particularly through the annual Longford GAA Race Day in Punchestown, the Club Longford Draw and for years was key in running the Annual Minor Board Golf Classic.
Eugene became an ever-present at the gates of Pearse Park and at club championship grounds across Longford. He was a wonderful ambassador both for his county and for Carrickedmond — a familiar, friendly face who greeted people with kindness and good humour. He was a popular figure across many clubs as seen by the response from the entire county since his passing. He was fantastic supporter of all clubs fundraising efforts and never refused to buy a ticket, he remarked himself he was often late into a game because he was purchasing tickets outside.
A great Gael, a true gentleman and a wonderful servant to Carrickedmond and Longford GAA. His contribution will never be forgotten.
Eugene’s pride in his home place and his passion for the GAA were always evident, and that enthusiasm naturally rubbed off on those around him. Nowhere was that more apparent than within his own family, where he passed on the same deep love for Carrickedmond and Longford that meant so much to him throughout his life.
Carrickedmond GAA wish to extend our deepest sympathy to Bernie, Emma, Katie, Eugene Jnr and all of Eugene’s extended family and friends at this tough time.
The gates around Longford football grounds will be a little quieter and a little lonelier without Eugene this summer, and for many summers to come.
Eugene reposed at his home in Taghshinny on Wednesday from 4pm until 7pm before his funeral Mass at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Carrickedmond on Thursday at 12-noon.
Members of the Carrickedmund GAA Club with members of the Longford GAA executive formed a guard of honour to pay their respects to Eugene and he was subsequently buried in the adjoining cemetery.
Eugene is survived by his loving wife Bernie, his daughters Emma, Katie and his son Eugene, his sisters Mary Lennon (Rathconrath), Bernie Farrell and Kathleen Clarke (Newtowncashel), brothers Packie and John, his grandchildren Luke, Fionn, Eva and Caolán, nieces and nephews and extended family.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.