A former Republic of Ireland defender, Greystones resident Shay Dunne has passed away.
The 86-year-old sporting hero passed on Wednesday, after a short illness.
Having first made his mark in Gaelic football, playing for Wicklow at junior level before signing with Drogheda United, then Shelbourne in the League of Ireland before moving to England to join Luton Town. Dunne made over 300 appearances with the latter club, he and fellow Irish defender Bud Aherne being instrumental in Luton winning promotion to the old first division for the very first time. Dunne was also instrumental in the team making its first FA Cup final, back in 1959.
For Ireland, Dunne made the move to senior international – after winning youth honours – against France in 1952, and also captained the team to victory over Denmark in a 1956 World Cup qualifier. Playing for another 12 years after that, Dunne moved back to this particular neck of the woods in the early 1970s.
Speaking this morning on Shay Dunne’s passing, FAI CEO John Delaney paid tribute by saying, “We are saddened to hear of the passing of a great football man in Shay Dunne. He served his country well for many years and we were delighted that he was present at the reunion of former internationals who were invited to Croke Park to attend the Ireland-Wales game in 2007. We will pay tribute to him at the game next week and our sympathies with his family at this sad time”.