Mr Vesey (68) is immediately survived by his wife Ita and his six children, Karen, Claire, John, Bronagh, Áine and Michael.

    A native of Achill, County Mayo, John’s contribution to gaelic games and society as a whole in Fermanagh, Mayo, Ulster and Ireland was reflected in the large attendances at his funeral Mass on Monday and indeed, at the removal of his remains on Sunday evening.

    On Sunday evening, John’s remains passed Brewster Park. John played a leading role in the development of Brewster Park and was described by former President of the GAA, Peter Quinn, as the driving force behind the development.

    A guard of honour featuring every club in Fermanagh greeted Mr Vesey’s arrival on Sunday evening while members of his home club Enniskillen Gaels, Ulster Council and the Fermanagh County Board carried his coffin.

    John Vesey was involved in all aspects of the GAA, from his playing days in Mayo where he was a native of Achill, through to management with Enniskillen Gaels and Fermanagh and on to administration level where he rose to president of the Ulster Council. He will be sorely missed by all Gaels.

    During his playing days John won a Sigerson Cup with UCD in 1959 and in the same year he went on to lift a Dublin Senior Championship, also with UCD.

    In 1961 he represented Mayo in the Connacht Championship against Galway.

    A move to Fermanagh followed in 1962 after taking up a teaching post, and he quickly took a role within GAA in the county at underage level.

    In 1965 he was appointed co-manager of the Fermanagh Vocational Schools side and in 1966 they went on to win an All Ireland title.

    John managed the Fermanagh senior side between 1969 and 1973 and was also interim manager on a number of occasions during his stint as County Chairman.

    Later on, along with his good friend Michael Brewster, he coached Enniskillen Gaels and in their three year period in charge the side won two league and championship doubles. He was also the driving force behind the construction of Brewster Park which is now one of the finest grounds in Ulster.

    John will also be remembered as a great administrator.

    He was secretary of the Fermanagh Minor Board before moving on to Chairman of the Fermanagh County Board.

    He was also a long time Fermanagh representative to the Ulster Council where he became President, and to Central Council, and sat on two of the GAA’s most important committees, the Management Committee and the Games Administrative Committee.

    His administrative skills were so highly regarded that he was named Chairman of the Ulster Council Centenary Committee.

    Mr. Vesey’s contribution to GAA within Fermanagh was immense and very much admired.

    Former President of the GAA, Peter Quinn, held Mr. Vesey in great regard.

    “John was involved in the GAA for 40 years and in that period nobody in Fermanagh contributed more to the organisation” he said.

    Mr. Vesey was a very well liked and influential figure within the Enniskillen Gaels club and Chairman Frankie Rooney was saddened by his passing away.

    “It is a tremendously sad day for all Fermanagh Gaels, especially the Gaels of Enniskillen. We feel honoured and privileged to have had such a wonderful person and influential leader as John Vesey within our membership.

    “Anyone who met John was surely all the richer for the experience. To me John Vesey was the GAA through and through and our sympathies go out to Ita and the whole family.”

    John Vesey was the epitomé of all that is good about gaelic games. As a player he enjoyed success but as an administrator he put much more back into the organisation. Gaelic games would not hold the prominence it does today in society without the vision of men such as John Vesey who worked tirelessly to bring the GAA forward. As such, the legacy and work of John Vesey will continue to have an influence for many generations to come.