Former Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan dies aged 57

Galway United assistant manager Ollie Horgan has died at the age of 57.

Horgan had worked within the League of Ireland since 2013, best known for his nine-year spell with Finn Harps as he twice took the club to the Premier Division and maintained their top-flight status against the odds.

He was appointed assistant to John Caulfield in 2022 as the Tribesmen went on to become First Division champions and established themselves as a Premier Division side.

Despite his cancer diagnosis, Horgan maintained his work with United until early July when he eventually stepped back.

In a statement, the Tribesmen paid tribute to their number two: "It is with immense sadness that Galway United share the news of the passing of Ollie Horgan.

"A legend of the game across Ireland, Ollie joined the Galway United family ahead of the 2023 season and has been instrumental in the club's success ever since.

"On behalf of everyone at Galway United, we would like to offer our deepest condolences to Anita, Ollie’s loving wife, his children Emma, Anthony, Brendan, Conor, David, his sister Mary, his brother Gerard and his extended family and friends. Ollie was predeceased by his mother Bernie, father Joe and brother Martin."

During his time within Irish football, Horgan became renowned for his work ethic and recruitment when working with limited resources, particularly in Ballybofey.

He managed the Republic of Ireland national schoolboy football team and also worked in the Ulster Senior League with Fanad United, as well as school teams, having been a maths teacher by trade.

An accomplished pianist, he enjoyed the works of Bach and Beethoven.

It was the tenure at Harps which brought Horgan to a wider audience, taking the club to the Premier Division despite serious limitations in terms of budget.

BJ Banda's goal in the 2015 play-offs to beat Limerick was heralded as one of the greatest nights in the club’s history.

Harps stayed up for one season before relegation during the campaign in which three teams were demoted.

They secured immediate promotion through the play-offs and went on to win another play-off as Horgan worked miracles to keep the side in the division.

After eventually dropping to the First Division at the end of 2022, Horgan parted ways with Harps and his appointment to work under Caulfield came as a considerable shock.

United had been struggling to get over the line in terms of promotion but the addition of the Salthill man to their backroom team proved a shrewd move.

Dundalk were among the first to pay tribute to Horgan, describing him as a "true pillar of the League of Ireland community".

We at Dundalk FC are deeply saddened by the passing of Ollie Horgan, a true pillar of the League of Ireland football community.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. His contributions and achievements have left a lasting legacy, and he will be greatly… pic.twitter.com/zheIGseZY3 — Dundalk FC (@DundalkFC) August 28, 2025

Sligo Rovers posted on X that Ollie will be remembered as "a man of integrity who gave his all to Irish football". On the same platform, Cork City said he would be "truly missed by everyone across the League of Ireland community".

Bohemians posted that "his presence and passion will be so sorely missed by all".

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