Dromod man in road accident There was great sadness in the Dromod region when it was learned that Michael (Mick) McGarry had been killed in a road accident close to his home at Dromodbeg outside the village. The accident happened in atrocious weather conditions about 10.40pm last Thursday night. Mr. McGarry, aged 58, from Mount Shannon, Dromod, was stuck by a car which was being driven by a Mayo footballer who was returning home having played Meath in Drumlish, Co. Longford. News of his death came as a big shock to everyone in the locality where he was widely known and respected. Mick McGarry was a real character who was known to all who travelled the roads from Dromod to Ballinamore, Longford or Carrick. Nearly everybody gave him a lift at some time or other and if you did you were both enlightened and entertained for the journey. Mick played football in his youth for Annaduff, winning a County U-14 championship in 1961. He also trained as a boxer for a while and in the early 1970s he was part of the very successful Drumsna-Annaduff Tug O' War team trained by Jim Gannon. He was also heavily involved in charity work locally in recent years. Mick worked in the Western Meats factory in Dromod until it closed and was a prominent union official there. His removal and funeral were both very large showing the regard in which he was held. A guard of honour was provided by his many friends in Sinn Fein, by former work colleagues and by his Tug O' War friends. As a mark of respect to Mick the Annaduff GAA Club AGM had been refixed for this coming Friday at 8.30pm. He was also remembered by a minute's silence at the Leitrim V Galway FBD match last Sunday. Mick is survived by his brothers Mark and John, sisters Mary and Sarah, sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. Removal of remains took place from St Patrick's Hospital, Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday. Funeral Mass in Annaduff Church took place in Sunday with burial afterwards in Cemetery. A vote of sympathy was expressed to the family of the late Mick McGarry at last Monday's meeting of Leitrim County Council. Cllr Sean McGowan (FF) said Mr McGarry was known the length and breadth of this county and many others. He described him as "a very genuine and pleasant gentleman" who was "an institution on the roads around Dromod." Cllr McGowan said it was very sad what happened and he appealed to people walking on the road to wear an armband or visibility vest at all times. He said Mr McGarry's passing had left a void around Dromod. "He was one of the great characters," Cllr McGowan said. The vote of sympathy was seconded by Cllr Martin Kenny (SF) who said he knew Mick McGarry very well and said he would be a great loss to everyone. "Mick McGarry was one of the great institutions of Dromod and Leitrim and was know far and wide. He was a gentle giant," Cllr Kenny said. Cllr Michael Colreavy (SF) described him as "one of nature's great characters" and said people like him are not being made anymore. He said it was a great loss. Cllr Enda Stenson (Ind) wished to be associated with the comments made and recalled that when he was first elected to the Council in 1999, Mick McGarry quipped to him "Jaysus, you're not one of us, but you're not one of them either," which was greeted with laughter in the Council Chamber, a reminder of the character Mick was. Cllr Paddy O' Rourke (FF) said he was a most entertaining man to have the craic with. Cathaoirleach, Cllr Gerry Reynolds (FG) and all members wished to be associated with the vote of sympathy expressed. Courtesy of the Leitrim Observer 20-01-06 Tweet

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