GAA president Nickey Brennan has extended his deepest sympathies and those of the Association to the family of former Tipperary All-Ireland hurling medal winner Pat Stakelum.
A native of Holycross, he led Tipperary to McCarthy Cup success in 1949, and went on to add two further All-Ireland medals to his collection on that famous three-in-a-row team (1949-51).
In addition to his Munster and All-Ireland successes in those years, he also won six national Hurling League medals (1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955 and 1957) and represented Munster on six Railway Cup winning teams.
Pat played for his native club Hoycross-Ballycahill for a long number of years and won county championships in 1948, 1951 and 1954.
Following his playing career he moved seamlessly into administration and served as County Secretary in Tipperary in 1961 and 1962.
He was a selector on a number of Tipperary senior hurling teams and saw his nephews, Richard and Conor Stakelum and Bobby and Aidan Ryan achieve success with Tipperary.
Brennan described Stakelum as one of Tipperary’s greatest GAA ambassadors.
He said that he led his club and county with great pride and his foresight in the late ‘70s when he helped set up the Durlas Óg Club was instrumental in helping Tipperary regain its place at the top of the hurling tree.
At the time of his passing Pat was president of the Durlas Óg club.