Former Donegal 1992 All-Ireland winning football star James McHugh died in a road traffic collision in Co Cavan yesterday afternoon.
The Cill Chartha native, who was in his early 60s, was in a collision involving a car and a van on the N3 at Drummallaght, between Virginia and Cavan town.
A woman, also aged in her 60s who was a passenger in the car, was seriously injured and was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital for treatment.
The driver of the van, a man in his 50s, was taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
A member of Donegal’s 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning team, Mr McHugh played for Donegal from 1990 until 1998.
He started at left half forward in the 1992 All-Ireland final and scored a point from play when Donegal defeated Dublin by a scoreline of 0-18 to 0-14.
A brother of football star Martin McHugh, James won an All Star in 1992, two Ulster championships in 1990 and in 1992 and a Railway Cup with Ulster in 1994.
Mr McHugh won the Donegal County Championship with his club Cill Chartha in 1985, 1989 and 1993.
He won four national Gaeltacht titles with Cill Chartha.
Mr McHugh and his son Eoin, a member of the current Donegal panel, shared a unique distinction in that both father and son captained their club to the national Gaeltacht title.
He was club captain when Cill Chartha won the national competition in 1990 while his Eoin captained Cill Chartha to success in Cill na Martra, Co Cork in 2024.
Deputy Pearse Doherty said his thoughts are with Mr McHugh’s family and friends, the GAA and wider community, and all those who knew and loved him at this time.
“James gave so much to Donegal GAA and will be remembered with great pride and affection across the county and beyond. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
By Shane Ó Curraighín