GAA President Sean Kelly led the tributes, saying: "All in the GAA are saddened at the untimely and early death of a great GAA man and the massive grievous loss to a great sporting family". He expressed his condolences on behalf of everybody in the GAA to the family, friends and teammates of the Galway footballing legend. The Taoiseach at the time, Bertie Ahern said he was "deeply saddened and shocked on learning of the sudden death of such an outstanding player." Hundreds of mourners gathered in Barna on Sunday 11 April 2006 to pay their respects to Colleran who was buried in Rahoon cemetery.