Paul Clancy, who won two All Ireland Senior Football titles with Galway, has passed away aged 49.
The former player's death was confirmed by Galway GAA this morning, who wrote on social media: “It is with immense sadness that we heard about the sad and untimely passing of our former double All-Ireland Senior Football winning player, Paul Clancy. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam".
🇶🇦Paul Clancy, R.I.P🇶🇦
It is with immense sadness that we heard about the sad and untimely passing of our former double All-Ireland Senior Football winning player, Paul Clancy.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam🕯️
Full tribute to follow. pic.twitter.com/CUTXai8da5
— Galway GAA Official (@Galway_GAA) June 23, 2026
Clancy, who helped his county to win the Sam Maguire Cup in 1998 and 2001, also won five Connacht titles. He also served as a selector for the Tribesmen under the management of Alan Mulholland from 2011 to 2014.
At club level, Clancy, played a key role in Maigh Cuilinn's All Ireland Intermediate Club triumph in 2008, which saw them beat Dublin's Fingal Ravens at Croke Park.
Between 2019 to 2023, Clancy also served as club chairman, coinciding with a period of huge success for the club, including winning their first ever Galway senior football championship in 2020, before going on to win their first Connacht senior club championship title in 2022.
Moycullen also paid tribute to Paul Clancy on social media.
"Paul had a genuine love for the game, when he finished playing he transferred straight into coaching & then Club Chairman – in his first year as Chair Maigh Cuilinn won our first ever County title, during his 4 year tenure as club chairman we won 2 County and 1 Connacht titles," they wrote.
"Paul is our most decorated player, an inspiration to a generation, remembered for having a sweet left peg, being teak tough and having an unwavering mindset but beyond the playing pitches he leaves a lasting legacy".
"He was an icon to so many in our community, so well known, so well respected and always had a word for everyone, a straight shooter with the boot and, if needed, with the lip. Calm and assured, reliable and loyal".
All at Cumann Peile Mhaigh Cuilinn were deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of Paul Clancy.
Hailing from the Clancy family, the GAA was in his blood – like his uncles and late father he was a natural sportsman, his formative years were spent at the pitch. pic.twitter.com/7OQQA2ecuA
— Maigh Cuilinn (@maighcuilinn) June 23, 2026
Along with his time as a selector with the Galway senior side, Paul Clancy also managed Westmeath club side, Garrycastle, as well as DIT's Sigerson Cup team. He also served as a selector for the Laois senior football side, managed by Justin McNulty during his first spell in charge.
On Sunday, Galway will face Dublin in the quarter finals of the All Ireland Senior Football Championship at Croke Park. The Tribesman are currently managed by Clancy's former Galway team mate, Padraig Joyce, while another of the quarter finalists, Cork, are coached by Kevin Walsh, who lined out for Galway for those two All Ireland triumphs in 1998 and 2001, alongside Joyce and Clancy.
Among the personal highlights of Clancy's county career undoubtedly happened in 2001, when he kicked a dramatic late winner against Armagh in a qualifier, which sparked Galway's run to the All Ireland final that year, and subsequent over Meath in Croke Park, the last time Galway were crowned All Ireland champions, having lost out in finals in 2021 and 2024.
Paul Clancy was married to wife Joanna, and they had two children, Ellen and Finn
