Prayers requested after Tyrone great Frank McGuigan suffers heart attack

Frank McGuigan shakes hands with Tommy Drumm after Tyrone's All-Ireland SFC semi-final victory over Dublin in 1984.

©INPHO/Billy Stickland.

Tyrone great Frank McGuigan is in hospital after suffering a heart attack and his club has asked for the GAA community to offer its prayers and support to the McGuigan family.

One of Tyrone’s most iconic footballers, McGuigan, who turned 70 last November, is a two-time Ulster senior football championship winner and also earned an All-Star award in 1984.

The ‘84 Ulster SFC final saw him scoring 0-11 from play – five off each foot and one fisted point – in Tyrone’s victory over Armagh, and 11 years prior to that he captained his county to its third ever Ulster title at just 19 years of age.

Sadly, his playing career would be cut short months after the provincial triumph of ’84 due to a serious car crash which almost claimed his life.

All four of Frank’s sons, Brian, Tommy, Frank Jnr and Shay, have gone on to represent Tyrone at the highest grade.

Following news of his heart attack, Ardboe O’Donovan Rossa posted the following on social media last night:

“CLG Uí Dhonnabháin Rosa asks all our members and extended club community to pray for Frank and the McGuigan family at this time,” the statement read.

“A legend for club and county, ‘The King’ has overcome many battles in the past and we wish him every strength in his recovery. Go dtaga biseach ort go luath!”

🙏PRAYERS FOR BIG FRANK 🙏

CLG Uí Dhonnabháin Rosa asks all members and extended club community to pray for Frank and the McGuigan family at this time. A legend for club and county, ‘The King’ has overcome many battles in the past and we wish him every strength in his recovery! pic.twitter.com/fHgxPMDf6Z

— Ard Bó (@ardboegfc) May 21, 2025