Saturday March 4 2000 Bray People SPORTING circles in North Wicklow have been greatly saddened by the death of one of the area's sports stalwarts, Denis McGinn, who died at the weekend. Denis (79), a resident of Windgates, Bray, passed away after a short illness at St Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, on Saturday, February 26. One local resident described the man as having been an enthusiast and expert practitioner of any game which had a ball in it, and many local sports figures issued fulsome tributes. The current secretary of Bray Golf Club, of which Denis has been an prominent and active member for many years, was saddened at the news of Denis's death. `Denis was a prominent and greatly esteemed member of this club, and on behalf of all our members I extend condolences to his family at this sad time,' Gerry Montgomery said. North Wicklow people will be familiar with Denis McGinn's prowess in soccer - he was a notable centre-half with Bray Unknowns in the 1930s, and was central in starting up the Bray CYMS soccer club which played in the AUL third division. He was also a celebrated member of Dublin squad Bohemians in the 1930s and 1940s. Denis also had close associations with Arsenal FC, and was a steward at the side's Highbury Stadium for some years after hanging up his boots in the late 40s and early 50s, and, one friend fondly recalled, was a good source for tickets for fellow local Gunners fans. One local man who was beginning his soccer career just as Denis's was coming to a close was Shay Ryan - indeed, both men were fellow members of the Bray Bowling Club in recent years. Says Shay: `I played with Bray Wanderers in the early 50s, and would have crossed swords with Dennis on the pitch on several occasions - he was a tenacious opponent, even at that stage in his career.' `Denis was a great enthusiast for sport, and played any sport that had a ball in it, and applied himself fully - he was extremely competitive and always gave of his best,' Shay recalled. Shay remembers Denis coming to the game of bowls cold about 10 years ago: `And in a short time he was difficult to beat for a man who had only taken up the sport late in life.' `I will remember him fondly - he was a very likeable man, and all I can say is, God help them up in heaven if there isn't a ball to play with,' Shay concluded. Denis was as active and proficient in other areas of his life - a dynamic member of the civil service, he worked in the Department of Social Welfare, as well as Customs & Excise at Dublin Castle, from where he retired in a senior position. Even in retirement, he used his experience to help others, and was a source of endless assistance to elderly people in helping them to process applications and ensure they received their entitlements. One very close friend, Brendan Carroll, summed up Denis's life and outlook by recalling one of the Windgates resident's most oft-quoted expressions: `If McGinn can't do it, it can't be done.' Denis, the husband of the late Mary (nee Murphy) McGinn, is survived by his daughters Kathleen, Mary, Margaret and Carmel, sisters Nan and Gert, and 11 grandchildren. He is also mourned by a huge extended family including his sister-in-law Kathleen, nephews, nieces and other relatives, as well as a huge circle of friends and acquaintances. A large crowd of local people attended his removal from Collier's Funeral Home on Old Connaught Avenue, Bray, on Tuesday evening and funeral yesterday morning (Wednesday). After a requiem Mass in the Church of the Holy Rosary, Greystones, Denis was laid to rest in Redford Cemetery.