The late Micheal Gregan The reaction of John Smithers to the sudden and tragic death of Newtown man and county GAA treasurer Micheal Gregan (34) probably speaks for an entire community. 'I nearly fell through the floor when I heard it,' said local Smithers, chairman of local GAA club Fenagh. 'And I keep wondering since did I actually get that phone call from Aggie Canavan (club secretary).' County GAA chairman Pat Deering was in a similar state of disbelief. 'I was talking to him at Dr Cullen Park on Saturday evening, where he was the organiser for looking after the gates for the Carlow/ Kildare hurling match,' said Mr Deering. 'He was in great form, all business. The last thing I expected was to get word like this. He was so young, into so many activities, with his whole life in front of him.' Fenagh GAA PRO Ann Kavanagh said the entire community of Fenagh and Newtown was in a complete state of shock. Gregan was a single man who lived with his parents Billy and Mary at Kildrenagh, Newtown. He was found dead near the family home between 10am and 11am on Monday morning. He was the eldest of four children and is survived by brothers Billy and Fiachra and sister Annette. His sister is returning from Saudi Arabia for the funeral, likely to be held by the end of the week. One of the first indicators the family received that something was wrong was when they received a phone call from Cooperative Animal Health in Tullow, where Micheal worked for 15 years, not long after 9am. 'Work was due to start at 9am, but Micheal was a guy you could set your watch by, a man who was always in work ahead of time,' said Neville Byrne, Purchasing Manager at the company, where Micheal had been shop manager for the last five years. 'We got the news later in the morning and the whole place is just devastated. He was an excellent chap, a very hard worker, and he would work all the hours God sent.' Micheals interests and activities in community life were many and varied. He was elected Carlow GAA treasurer in December, and was also a driving force behind the development and day-to-day running of the Fenagh club. He was also involved with Macra na Feirme and Tullow Credit Union and had a keen interest in greyhound racing. He had become involved in so many organisations because if his sheer willingness to lend a hand, according to John Smithers. 'The man could not say no,' John told The Nationalist. 'As a neighbour said to me, he was everyone's friend - he had no enemy. He would not shy away from any task, no matter how difficult it was.' Sadness at Micheal's death will be felt beyond his community and county as he was also involved in the Leinster council of the GAA, and had friends from far and wide. There is expected to be a massive attendance at his funeral. Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist 22nd June 2007 Tweet

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