Dr. Mick Loftus (born 1929), Mayo, was a football player, referee, and the twenty-eighth president of the GAA (1985-1988)
As a football player, Dr. Loftus played for his native Crossmolina (now Deel Rovers)[1], winning a Mayo Senior Championship medal in 1947, and a Junior medal in 1955. He represented his county at Junior, Minor, and Senior levels, and was captain of the Mayo team that won the 1957 All-Ireland Junior final.[2]
He had been a member of the Mayo team that won the 1951 All-Ireland Senior Football Final, but he, along with Willie Casey and Paddy Jordan, as non-playing substitues, did not receive a medal for the game. Mayo County Board revised the decision to match modern practices, and he received his medal 55 years after the game.[3]
As a referee, Dr. Loftus refereed the All-Ireland Senior Football Final in 1965 and 1968, and the Minor final in 1964, for which he flew back from New York, with Crossmolina teammate John Nallen delaying the plane so he could make the flight back.[4] He also participated as Chairperson of the National Referees’ Committee and the Rules Revision Group, and was President of the Connacht Council.
As a coroner and GP, Dr. Loftus has been outspoken on matters relating to health, boycotting the All-Ireland when the GAA accepted sponsorship from a drinks company.[5]
He is also an advocate for active aging, and was a recipient in the first All-Ireland Inspirational Life Awards for his work as chairman of National Council of Aging and Older People,[6] and participated in the 2011 World Senior Games[7], winning four medals in the 80-85 age group: gold in the 3000m and 400m, silver in the 1500m and 150m[8]. At a previous games, he had broken the world record for 2000m in the 75-79 age group.[9]
Dr. Loftus was the inaugural winner of The Mayo News/O’Neills Club Stars “Hall of Fame” award[10].
One of Dr. Loftus’s whistles is on display in Lár na Páirce, in the “Knights of the Whistle” display.
