Paul McGinley announces the demise of his father after a long battle with dementia: "We are all broken"

Paul McGinley is grieving the loss of his father, Mick McGinley, who passed away on Sunday after a long struggle with dementia. The former Ryder Cup captain shared the news on X, calling his father a mentor, friend, and guiding presence in his life.

On December 28, Paul posted a photo with his father, wearing matching white T-shirts of the Irish Heart Foundation. The picture reflected Paul’s personal connection to the organization, as his father had previously undergone a quadruple bypass for heart disease.

"We lost Dad today after a long battle with Dementia. Could not have asked for a better mentor, friend and Dad. We are all broken hearted and sad," Paul wrote in the caption.

Mick McGinley, a native of Dunfanaghy, Donegal, passed away at his home in Rathfarnham, Dublin, surrounded by his family. In his youth, he was a talented athlete, playing inter-county football for Donegal from 1959 to 1961 and winning an Ulster minor title as well as a MacRory Cup with St. Eunan's College in Letterkenny.

Outside of sports, Mick built a successful career in business, co-founding the telecommunications company Sigma Wireless. He was also a skilled amateur golfer and will be fondly remembered for his achievements in both business and sport.

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Paul McGinley recalled his father’s final years with dementia

Paul McGinley has opened up in recent years about his father Mick’s battle with dementia, which was first diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a 2024 conversation, Paul described how his father gradually lost mobility and had trouble communicating.

“He’s always been complicit and smiley, and you walk into the house now and even though he can’t say ‘hello Paul’ anymore, he recognizes my face and he lights up with that big, huge smile that he’s got,” Paul McGinley said. “He looks great. He looks terrific. He’s the same Mick McGinley that everybody knew. And some people will come up and not know, but they can tell quite quickly that there’s obviously a challenge there. But he’s always happy. He has a big smile on his face because he still sees faces and he can recognise faces.”

Mick is survived by his five children, Paul McGinley, Mary, Karen, Michael, and Suzanne. He was predeceased by his wife, Julia, who passed away in 2023.

According to the Irish Mirror, Mick McGinley will lie in repose at Fanagans Funeral Home in Rathfarnham on Thursday, January 1, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. His funeral Mass is scheduled for the following day, Friday, January 2, at 1 pm at the Church of the Annunciation in Rathfarnham, followed by burial at Kilmashogue Cemetery.

Edited by Hitesh Nigam