It’s invariably a compliment when someone becomes known to everyone by their nickname and quite often people are unaware of their actual first name. In the Shamrocks’ family one thinks of the likes of The Killer, Puggy, Beaker and Chubby just to name a few. This was certainly the case with Aidan ‘Muggs’ Mulligan who sadly passed away yesterday (Thursday). The modern GAA is an all-welcoming organisation with room for people of varying talents and ‘Muggs’ was one of those people. His ability on the green sward was more renowned on the fairways of his beloved Mullingar GC than on the pitches in Springfield through his wonderful personality, musical talents and willingness to be always up for a laugh, ‘Muggs’ made countless friends in Shamrocks. Muggs, and his good friend Paddy Wallace, joined various Mullingar Shamrocks golfing groups on their overseas tours and the trips were all the more enjoyable by his presence. 

In many ways his links to Shamrocks were inevitable with his late dad Martin a former player, sponsor and Chairman of the club and indeed many budding Shamrocks’ footballers of yesteryear bought their first pair of boots in Martin Mulligan’s shoe shop on Mount Street. 

‘Muggs’ played a vibrant role in the club’s Strictly Come Dancing Fundraiser in 2018 when he partnered Marie Kiernan and the two gregarious personalities produced plenty of laughs and fun at the rehearsals. It is no exaggeration to say that on the night Muggs and Marie stole the show with their unique dance routine despite having to deal with the challenge of the DJ playing the wrong music. It didn’t really matter as the dancers had designed their own special freestyle routine.  

When the majority of patrons that night had gone home, it was ‘Muggs’ on the turntable who entertained the contestants and club members into the early hours. A year later, he was a spectator at the Sound of the Musicals extravaganza but once more he led the partygoers into the wee hours with his eclectic taste in music. He impressed so much as DJ that club players hired him to play at their weddings. 

‘Muggs’ and Delia Mulligan of course ran a very successful cafe on Mary Street for over twenty years and Delia’s wizardry in the kitchen combined with ‘Muggs’ front of house repartee made The Spiced Bean a favourite for countless people over the years. 

Mullingar Shamrocks members and executive tender sincere sympathy to Delia,  and to his brothers Gerry and Marty, sister Orla, nephews Ben, Gerry and Martin, niece Emma, brother-in-law Paul, and to members of his extended family and countless friends. 

Muggs reposes at Shaw’s Funeral Home, Bishopsgate Street on Sunday from 2.00 pm concluding with prayers at 5.00 pm followed by removal to the Cathedral of Christ the King arriving at 5.30. 

Muggs’s funeral Mass takes place on Monday morning at 11.00 am followed by burial in Kilronan Cemetery.