There was widespread shock across the Galway andamp;amp; Irish Communities in New York City and here in the West, throughout Counties Galway and Mayo and further afield; on the sudden and unexpected death of Brendan Hynes in New York, on Sunday last, September 4th.
Brendan Hynes was born in Gurteen, Ballinasloe, in 1934 and was educated at the local National School and later at Ballinafad College.
He was an outstanding young Sportsman and played Hurling and Football with Gurteen andamp;amp; Ballymacward – later with St. Kerrill’s, an amalgamation of both; graduating onto the Galway Minor Hurling Team in 1952. Like many of his fellow Irishmen, he emigrated to the U.K. in 1955 and joined Manchester Shamrocks G.A.A. Club, winning a Lancashire County Senior Hurling Championship Medal in 1956 and was later selected and played for Lancashire in the U.K. G.A.A. Championships. He left the U.K. and went on to the U.S.A. arriving in New York in 1961, where he lived for the past fifty five years. His first job was as a Bus Driver and after that he fulfilled his mandatory enlistment in the U.S. Military Services, serving in Germany for two years.
On his return to New York, he re-joined his G.A.A. Colleagues in the Galway Hurling Club of New York, captaining them to win the North American/New York Senior Hurling Championship in 1964; a feat which this star studded Team repeated in 1965 andamp;amp; 1966; thus mirroring the Galway Football “Three-in-a-Row” success here at home, in the same years. He played for New York against Ireland in the Cardinal Cushing Games in Boston in 1964, ’65 andamp;amp; ’66, with New York winning the first two and Ireland, Captained by the legendary Christy Ring, narrowly winning in 1966. Later he would become the Galway/New York Team Manager in 1968 and subsequently became a Galway andamp;amp; New York G.A.A. Officer.
He married the love of his life, a great Mayo woman, Ann McDonnell, from Glenamoy in October 1966. They have four Children and twelve Grandchildren. Brendan Hynes was a distinguished Public Servant in New York, becoming Transport Commissioner in the State of Queens, responsible for Highway supervision, along with Road development and maintenance, Lighting, etc.
After that, he developed the famous “Green Leaf” Public House on 242nd. Street in Broadway. The Green Leaf became a home from home for Emigrants from Ireland and especially for Galway G.A.A. People. Later he would develop the Hynes Plaza, a commercial and residential complex in Upstate, New York.
In a statement this week, the County G.A.A. Chairman, Noel Treacy stated “Brendan Hynes was an outstanding Galwayman and was so proud of his Country. He loved Galway and flew home for our Games annually, including the Game with Cork in April last. He also attended Pearses’ Games, irrespective of Grade or Code, when he was home.
An outstanding Sportsman, he was a person of decency and generosity and was extremely good to Galway Emigrants, arriving in New York over the years. A man of pleasant disposition, he endeared himself to many, at home and abroad.
We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Ann and their four Adult Children – Kerrill, Cathy, Deirdre and Kenneth; along with their Spouses and Children; to his brother John in Ballymacward; cousins, in-laws and many friends. Ní bheidh a leitheád arís ann”.
Brendan Hynes Funeral Mass will take place in St. Denis R.C. Church, Hopewell Junction, New York; on this Friday, September 9th at 12 Noon. A Memorial Mass in his honour will be held in Ballymacward R.C.C. on Monday next, September 12th at 8pm. May he Rest in Peace.