A former national president of GAA Handball has died tragically while on holidays in Spain.
Michael Boyce (79) was on holidays in Torremolinos on the Costa Del Sol with his wife when he suffered a fall last Saturday evening.
Mr Boyce died in hospital on Thursday evening without having regained consciousness. It’s understood that Mr Boyce sustained a fatal head injury after falling while descending steps.
Close friend Caimin Jones, also a former national handball president, said: “Michael was a man of great vision and clarity. He was always very straight whether it was in his work or in handball. He was a man of tremendous integrity.”
“When I became Handball President, I would run always run ideas past Michael. What he gave to handball was unreal. He gave so much of his time to the development of handball not just in Clare,” Mr Jones said.
From Scarriff, Co Clare Michael Boyce served as Irish Handball President during the period 1975 to 1978 and was the first Clareman to be elected to the position.
He also held positions on Clare County Board and Munster Council before being elected to the office of National Handball President.
During his time in Office Michael Boyce was responsible for the introduction of the Open Draw in the Senior 60 x 30 Softball Championship and was instrumental in the rejuvenation of handball in his beloved Clare.
He was also the driving force behind the roofing of the 60 x 30 court and the construction of the 40 x 20 court in Tuamgraney.
GAA Handball confirmed on their website: “It is with deep sadness and regret that GAA Handball inform you of the passing of Michael Boyce of Tuamgraney and Clare.”