The late Nudie Hughes has been described as the "son of Castleblayney" and an "all time great."
The funeral mass of the Monaghan legend took place earlier today at St Mary's Church in Castleblayney.
Paying tribute to the late Monaghan great, Fr Stephen Duffy said that Nudie had a great love for his roots in York Street and wider Castleblayney area.
He said Nudie had great love and time for everyone, and that was not one way. Nudie was loved with the greatest pride by locals who see him as one Castleblayney's greatest sons.
Hughes is one of only a small number of players to have been recognised in defence and attack; his first coming as a corner-back with the others coming as a corner-forward.
Those three All-Star winning years coincided with Monaghan winning the Ulster title. Nudie was also part of the team that won the National Football League.
Hughes picked up a Railway Cup medal in 1984 as part of Ulster's winning side and also won two Ulster club football titles with Castleblaney Faughs.
Fr Duffy spoke about Nudie's resilience over the years, which served him well during his battle with cancer, adding that it will be part of his lasting legacy to us all. Fr Duffy told those in attendance: "Having received his diagnosis, Nudie experienced a dark night of the soul. However, coming out the other side of this experience, Nudie said the first half begins tomorrow.
"He said I'm going to start again tomorrow, I'm going to fight again tomorrow and I'm not going to lose this battle easily. So today for any of us, if life is tough at the moment or seems impossible, let us once more in our hearts hear the voice of Nudie saying - The first half begins tomorrow."
Back in 2024, the late Nudie Hughes was honoured by the Gaelic Players Association with a Lifetime Achievement award. This is something which Fr Duffy described as a "proud day" for all the people of Castleblayney.
Fr Duffy said: "That particular week I had spoken to Nudie on the phone and he was very ill, I didn't think he'd be strong enough to make it but in typical Nudie fashion the thought of Croke Park and once again being in the Hogan Stand brought him alive as he was once more on the big stage in our stadium of dreams. It was a great day to be in the presence of all the great footballing royalty from down through the years and right at the heart of this was our very own Nudie Hughes."
