I have just been notified of the very recent death of Des O’Grady who was I guess around 70ish and lived in Cork. More than that Des, who had a goatee beard, was a decent quiet man. A season ticket holder in the James Hargreaves upper stand who travelled over for most of the home games and some away. His trips had the added expense of overnight stays each game and few pints around town, but it didn’t deter him, from his love of Burnley FC.
Posting the news on here, means sharing it out with people he met in the pub, or on a match, who would have been wondering where Des was.
RIP my friend. A true Claret.

So very sad to lose such a clearly dedicated claret. Rest in peace Des, keep watching us from up high.

RIP Cork Claret.

I've never met him, but have a brother outside Cork who is a massive Burnley fan. I know the commitment it takes to travel over on a regular basis.
Prayers are with his friends and family.

RIP Des

RIP.

My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Des ... I don't think I ever met him but its always sad to hear of a fellow Claret passing.

Sad news, RIP to this gentleman, condolences to his family and friends

RIP Des..Condolences to all his family..

Colborn Claret. The funeral is 1pm on Monday the 13th, at St Oliver’s Cemetery. As the funeral home is at Ballincollig, maybe that is where the cemetery is. Your brother may wish to pay his respects to a fellow Cork Claret. I’m sure it would be appreciated, if he wore something Claret n Blue.

RIP Cork Claret

Condolences to his family and close friends.

Bfc wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 09, 2025 7:35 pm

Colborn Claret. The funeral is 1pm on Monday the 13th, at St Oliver’s Cemetery. As the funeral home is at Ballincollig, maybe that is where the cemetery is. Your brother may wish to pay his respects to a fellow Cork Claret. I’m sure it would be appreciated, if he wore something Claret n Blue.

I'll pass it on, I've no idea if he can make it, but I'm sure he'd like to pay his respects if possible.

R.I.P Des.
My condolences to his family & friends.

R.I.P. to a fellow claret

RIP, Des.
Sounds like a true Claret.
Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

We all belong to the same family. Quite a few Clarets in Ireland on both sides of the border. And Ireland has given us so many players.

Thoughts and prayers for his family and friends.

RIP Des

very sad, condolences to those closet to Des.

Sad news. We far travelling Clarets are definitely addicted to the cause!

If/when I conk out no one will know, other than I won't post anymore! (And my seat in Longside Upper will be empty)

RIP Claret. Clearly a very loyal and dedicated fan. Thoughts to Des' family and friends.

Rest in peace fellow Claret and sincere condolences to family and friends.

RIP Cork Claret. Never met Des but the loss of any Claret is a very sad day. I’ll make every effort to be there on Monday. Just checked and it is Ballincollig, I can pay my respects to Rory Gallagher at the same time

RIP Des. Condolences to your family. I'm guessing your life was blessed a little by being part of BFC world.

RIP Des, from a Claret in Dublin.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

RIP fellow claret,condolences to his familly and all that knew him!!

May he RIP

CINM

Another Claret left us , very sad .

Tricky Trevor, if you manage to go to the funeral, please make yourself known to Noel Brady another Cork Claret. Noel used to come over with Des, until his own ill health stopped his trips, but not his passion for Bfc. Having a quick chat with a fellow Claret, will do him good. As I know, it’s been a big shock, losing his close friend. If your on Facebook, you will see a pic of Noel, who posts lots of Burnley related info.

Re an earlier comment of Bfc supporters North and South of the Border. I’ve got to know a lot of those supporters, some for over 40 years and we still keep in touch. While many have stayed at my house, during that time, I’ve also gone North and South to meet up with them.

Bfc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:57 am

Tricky Trevor, if you manage to go to the funeral, please make yourself known to Noel Brady another Cork Claret. Noel used to come over with Des, until his own ill health stopped his trips, but not his passion for Bfc. Having a quick chat with a fellow Claret, will do him good. As I know, it’s been a big shock, losing his close friend. If your on Facebook, you will see a pic of Noel, who posts lots of Burnley related info.

Re an earlier comment of Bfc supporters North and South of the Border. I’ve got to know a lot of those supporters, some for over 40 years and we still keep in touch. While many have stayed at my house, during that time, I’ve also gone North and South to meet up with them.

Definitely going, Bfc. I’ll check out Noel on FB and try to find him.

Bfc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:57 am

Tricky Trevor

I found Noel on FB plus photo. He has a photo of Dez in his friends list. Reply if you would like me to share it for those who might know him.

I also live in Ireland, in the Midlands, on the banks of the River Shannon. I met Des a few times at matches over the years, and Noel Brady too. Both great men and great Clarets. RIP Des.

Tricky Trevor, if you would post the photo, I’d be grateful. I would have, if I’d known how. It will jog people’s memories of them both. I will text Noel and make him aware, your going to look out for him. Thank you.

RIP Dez O’Grady.

RIP Des...! Condolences to your family.

Thanks very much for the photo Tricky Trevor, which I’ve saved in my phone, in memory of Des. The 1 I saw from Noel, was of him, Des and a couple of other people outside the door of a Pub.
I've forwarded all the boards messages to Noel, requesting he shares them with Des’s wife and family. It will show them, that we Clarets are a caring group and a widespread family, who share the loss of a fellow Claret.

I didn't know him but his face looks familiar.
Always sad to lose a fellow Claret
RIP

JJ Watt if you read this, there’s a photo of you both, on Facebook, taken on the 8th May 2023.
Maybe Tricky Trevor could upload it on here.

Rest in Peace, Des.

Bfc wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 9:54 am

JJ Watt if you read this, there’s a photo of you both, on Facebook, taken on the 8th May 2023.
Maybe Tricky Trevor could upload it on here.

Whose FB page is it on, Bfc? I can’t find it.

Tricky Trevor, it’s from Noel. Does this help https://www.facebook.com/share/1J9oM8mN3j/. It means nothing to me, but something to you, fingers crossed.

Bfc wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:32 pm

Tricky Trevor, it’s from Noel. Does this help https://www.facebook.com/share/1J9oM8mN3j/. It means nothing to me, but something to you, fingers crossed.

Sadly it tells me it is unavailable to me as I don’t belong to the group, Bfc.

Funeral happening now. RIP Des.

Another one of the many unsung Clarets heroes who go way above and beyond to support their team. Free seat forever in Directors box now. RIP

Bfc wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:32 pm

Tricky Trevor.

Hi, Bfc. Made it down today. What a fantastic turn out for him. Monstrous CP and I ended up a quarter of a mile away and as I drove onwards coming home it was a quarter of a mile the otherside also.
Wonderful eulogy on him; teacher, involved with GAA locally, politics and Burnley got a mention. I wish I’d known him.
Sadly I didn’t come across Noel. Guess he was closer to the immediate family and I didn’t like to intrude.

Well done Tricky Trevor and thanks for making the effort, I will be in touch with Noel tomorrow and will let him know. I looked at booking a flight to Cork, which was very reasonably priced. But it would’ve meant getting up at 3am, for an early morning flight. Given the weather, I felt it best for my own well being to stay at home. I had my own minutes silence, dressed in a Burnley shirt.

Des also played for the Cork Senior Gaelic Football team in his time and won an All Ireland title with his club side.

Typical of him Longford Claret. He also played in a few County Finals and the 1980 final, while he was also a good Hurling player. It was always our team, we talked about. I messaged his friend Noel in Cork. Not surprised that although he knew Des was a good player, he didn’t know that, or much of his Maths teacher career, or his role as an active County Councillor for years.
As he said he was a modest man.
As a fan of Gaelic football, I’d have loved to have had a chat about his Gaelic football career. I’ve seen a couple of games at a less than half full Croke Park, but him playing in a final, in the packed stadium, would be something else. Seeing a Final is a must do on my bucket list.
Tricky Trevor, if you would like to speak Bfc with Noel, he agreed for me to pass you his Tel No 353892417809.

Yes I have had a pint with Des about three times or so, but we only discussed how Burnley were going to get on or sport in general. I never knew he had played Gaelic Football to a high level or anything.