San Francisco GAA hall of fame
The San Francisco GAA Hall of Fame honors individuals whose dedication, leadership, and contributions have helped shape Gaelic games in Northern California. From players and coaches to volunteers and community leaders, each inductee has played a part in building the legacy of the San Francisco GAA.
For generations, the GAA has been about more than sport. It is a connection to Irish heritage, a source of community, and a tradition passed from one generation to the next. The people recognized here have helped sustain that tradition, strengthen our clubs, and create a lasting home for Gaelic games at Páirc na nGael and throughout the Bay Area.
We celebrate their achievements, recognize their service, and honor the legacy they leave for those who follow.
Patrick (Pat) Kinsella
2009Pat Kinsella's love of Gaelic football began in County Carlow and continued through a life that took him across America to the Bay Area. A native of Ballytimmon, Fenagh, he was one of the original members of Fenagh Football Club alongside his brother Tom. After moving to Chicago, he found another sporting home with St. Pat's Club before making his way west to San Francisco.
Pat was one of the San Francisco 1960 Gaelic Football All Stars and continued playing in the United States into his forties. His football story connects the local clubs and communities of Ireland with the teams that helped Irish emigrants find friendship and belonging in a new country.
Beyond the pitch, Pat built a family life in Burlingame and remained active in his community. We remember his place in San Francisco's football history and the love of sport he passed to the next generation. He died on April 17, 2026, shortly before his 101st birthday.
Tom Hayes
2008Tom Hayes brought the determination of his County Limerick upbringing to a new life in San Francisco, and helped strengthen the Irish community that became his home. Born in Ballingarry, he emigrated to America in 1949 and settled in San Francisco, where he learned the plastering trade before opening Tom Hayes Plastering Co. in 1958.
His contribution reached well beyond his business. A founding member of the United Irish Cultural Center, Tom also served on civic boards and committees and was appointed to the BART Board of Directors in 1974. His life brought together sport, community service and a lasting commitment to the city.
An athlete as well as a community leader, Tom was inducted into the San Francisco GAA Hall of Fame in 2008. We remember him as part of the generation that carried Irish traditions into everyday life in the Bay Area and helped give our community a firm foundation. He died in 2010, leaving a legacy that belongs to both his family and the wider Irish community.
From Dromtariffe in County Cork to the football fields of San Francisco, Tim Murphy carried his love of Gaelic games with him. Before emigrating in 1960, he won a County Cork junior football title with his home club in 1959. In San Francisco, he joined the Cork club and became part of a new sporting community without losing his ties to home.
In 1961, Tim was a member of the San Francisco selection that won the North American National Football Championship. He was also on the local senior panel that faced the visiting County Down team in 1962. Those experiences place him in an important chapter of our football history, when Irish emigrants were building teams and friendships far from their home parishes.
Tim's service extended into the wider Irish community through the United Irish Cultural Center and the Rebel Cork Benevolent Association. He served as UICC President in 1978-79 and was named Corkman of the Year in 2021. His induction into the San Francisco GAA Hall of Fame in 2009 recognized a sporting life rooted in the same loyalty and community spirit that marked his work away from the pitch.
2009Tim Murphy
Larry Moroney
2009Larry Moroney was part of the football generation that helped write an early chapter of San Francisco GAA history. Raised in County Roscommon, he emigrated first to England and then to San Francisco. After two years of service in the United States Army, he returned to civilian life and played for the championship Irish football teams of 1960 and 1961.
His obituary records his induction into the San Francisco GAA Hall of Fame, a recognition that links his name with the players who carried the games into their new lives in America. That sporting contribution was part of a broader life of community involvement: Larry was a founding member of the United Irish Cultural Center and a familiar participant in its Connaught Tour.
A plumber by trade, Larry was remembered for helping friends and neighbors, and for the humor and musical talent he brought to community gatherings. We remember both the footballer and the community member, whose life connected teammates, family and friends across generations. He died on March 9, 2023.
Hugh Duggan
2015Hugh Duggan's contribution to Gaelic games has taken many forms: player, referee, coach, and administrator. A lifelong member of Pearse Óg in Armagh and a former inter-county referee, he arrived in the United States in 1981 with a deep knowledge of the games and a willingness to put that experience to work.
In 1987, Hugh became a founding member of San Francisco's Ulster club, serving as its first secretary and team manager. He later managed Michael Cusacks to a North American Junior Football Championship in 1991, an Intermediate title in 1992 and a Senior title in 1994. In 1996, he coached the North American men's football team at the International Cup in Dublin.
His service continued as San Francisco Divisional Chair, Chair of the 2001 North American Finals and USGAA Referee Administrator. A three-time San Francisco Referee of the Year, Hugh was elected Honorary President of USGAA in 2017 and received the GAA President's International Award in 2019. His record reflects the work needed to keep the games strong, from the training field to the referee's whistle and the meeting room.