Funeral of former GAA President Dr Michael Loftus told of 'humble giant'

Former GAA President Dr Michael 'Mickey' Loftus has been described as "a humble giant" who impacted on the lives of thousands of people.

Dr Loftus died at the weekend. He was 93 years old.

His funeral mass has been taking place at St Tiernan’s Church, in his hometown of Crossmolina, Co Mayo.

In a long and varied career, Dr Loftus served as a GP in north Mayo for six decades, as well as being coroner for the region for more than 30 years.

He was involved in the GAA at all levels, playing at club and inter-county level in the 1940s and 1950s.

He went on to referee two All-Irelands in the sixties, before being elected chairman of the Connacht GAA Council and ultimately serving as the Association’s President between 1985 and 1988.

President Michael D. Higgins was represented at the funeral by his Aide-De-Camp Col. Stephen Howard.

GAA President Larry McCarthy led a broad selection of the association’s past and present members at the funeral mass.

In his homily, Fr Pat Munnelly said Dr Loftus had a deep faith and had given his life to caring for others.

He described him as a man of high standards and moral courage, who was never afraid to "step out and comment" on the abuse of alcohol in society.

Fr Munnelly said he did so as a doctor and a coroner, because he saw the horror that was destroying the lives of many people.

Referencing his subsequent campaign against alcohol sponsorship of sport, Fr Munnelly said Dr Loftus was an example to young and old.

He told the congregation that Dr Loftus was now in a place where he could help the people of Mayo attain "what we have been trying to achieve since 1951", a reference to the county's last All-Ireland title win.

Among the gifts brought to the altar during the offertory were family photographs,