Tributes have been paid to Dermot O'Brien, the former Louth football captain and musician, who died yesterday morning following a long battle against cancer.
O'Brien (74) was captain and centre forward when Louth won the last of their three All-Ireland successes in 1957. Louth's All-Ireland win was the highlight of a long playing career, which included two Leinster championship wins and three Louth senior football titles with his club, St Mary's in Ardee.
In the 1960s, O'Brien became best known as an accordion player and singer. As leader of the showband, Dermot O'Brien and the Clubmen, he went straight to No 1 in 1965 with his version of The Merry Ploughboy.
He also hosted an RTÉ programme, The Dermot O'Brien Show, the late 1960s and early 1970s. O'Brien moved to the United States to pursue his music career and recorded a St Patrick's Day special with Bing Crosby.
RTÉ director general Cathal Goan described him as a "gentleman" and a "great ambassador" for Ireland who saw himself as an accordion player first and a singer after that.
GAA president Nickey Brennan said O'Brien was an "immensely talented man" and an "iconic figure".
