Louth Obituaries 2002

Terry Maher

Almost every year, the Association in the county loses some of its greatest stalwarts and sadly the past year has been no exception.
When this yearbook was published in 2001, our county chairman was Terry Maher. Unfortunately, only a couple of months later, Terry was no longer with us as the good Lord called him home following an illness which Terry bore with great dignity and humility.
A lifelong member of the GAA Terry was very proud of his native Louth. Elected County Chairman in the Fairways Hotel. Dundalk at the County Convention on 9th December 1998, Terry noted that it was a great honour to take on the role as Chairman of the County Committee, a position he had aspired to without success on a number of occasions. However his time had come and he pledged to give the same commitment to leading the county as he had in the many other roles and positions he had held over a long period.
Terry was goalkeeper on the Oliver Plunketts team which won the 1957 Senior Football Championship. Turning his skills to administration, he served for many years as Secretary of the Oliver Plunketts club and only relinquished his role there prior to taking on his leading position with the County Committee.
His input into Minor Board welfare was enormous, having served as Chairman for three different spells, from 1978 to 1981, returning for two years in 1986 and 1987, and again from 1991 to 1994. Holding the position of Secretary in 1990, he was also PRO from 1978 to 1981 and again in 1987. Terry also served on Drogheda minor board.
His commitment to underage affairs saw him take on the duties of Youth Officer at the 1984 Convention, an office he continued to fill through 1985 and 1986.
Terry’s first officership at Senior Board was when elected Vice-Chairman South in 1980 and ‘81, a post he returned to in 1998 prior to his elevation to County Chairman.
Terry carried out the duties of his office with great distinction and commitment. Even through the illness which dogged his final year in office, he gave it his all.
In all his efforts on behalf of the GAA he always had the full support of his wife, Aileen, who herself has given a huge commitment to the Oliver Plunketts club, and his family were always there to support his every effort.
Towards the end of Terry’s three years in office, he performed one of his more pleasant tasks when he oversaw the launch of ‘The G.A.A. in Louth, an historical record – the century – the millennium’ It was a very proud Terry Maher who witnessed its launch by the President of the GA.A Sean McCague, where tributes were paid to Terry for his leadership by the President.
These tributes were re-echoed later in the night when Chairman of Leinster Council, Seamus Aldridge paid his own (and the province’s) tributes before making a presentation to Terry on behalf of the Louth County Committee. Terry was afforded a standing ovation, to an esteemed County Chairman
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal

PADDY KING
Paddy King, whose death also occurred this year, was one of the great GAA journalists for many years especially during the 1950s, into the ‘60s ‘70s and ‘80s.
Paddy’s match reports, analysis and previews were looked forward to with great expectation and anticipation. He had such a wonderful knowledge (of gaelic games and players) which was second to none, whether he was reporting on club games or the intercounty scene.
He may have been lucky to start his journalistic career during a golden age of Louth football. However this writer believes that we, the followers of gaelic games, were indeed the lucky ones to have received the benefits of such a brilliant talent.
Paddy took great pride in his native area and all its activities. He was also very proud of his county and its achievements.
Paddy, for many years, also reported on County Conventions and attended many County Committee meetings. He was
Editor of the County’s Yearbook for most of its early editions through the ‘70s and early 80s, and always made a contribution to the County Final programme and indeed most of the club publications.
For many years associated with the Dundalk Democrat, Paddy spent his later working years with the Drogheda Independent. After his official retirement he continued to make contributions on a freelance level and he was very well respected in the national newspapers, especially the Independent and Irish Press where he reported on Louth progress through National League and Championship outings.
Sadly, Paddy’s final article to County Committee Publications came in the form of his recollections of the 1962 Senior Football Championship decider between Newtown Blues and Mattock Rangers on the occasion of the sides’ meeting for the 2001 title.
Paddy accepted the invitation from the then county chairman, Terry Maher, in his usual willing manner, his professionalism always to the fore. He has set a tremendous standard for other scribes to follow and has left behind a legacy that will be admired for many years to come.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal


An tAthair Pol McSeain
The passing of An tAthair Pol came as a shock to his friends and many admirers of his tremendous work for the game of hurling and all games associated with our national game.
As a curate in the Fatima area, which is attached to Faughart parish, his drive and imagination helped form juvenile hurling leagues in the new housing area to the north and west of Castletown in Dundalk. He managed to gather the parents of the area to participate. This league helped foster a great love of hurling not alone in the Fatima area, but brought juveniles from other parts of Dundalk into the hurling fold. In turn, many of these young players played major roles in the county’s successes through the ‘70s.
An tAthair, however, also became the brains and driving force behind the great hurling skills competition held annually over the Cooley Mountains at Annaverna – An Poc Fada. Held almost every year since 1992, the contest has taken place over the same terrain on every occasion with the exception of 2001, when the foot and mouth epidemic deemed the mountain out of bounds. However the contest did take place on Dundalk Racecourse.
Croke Park sanctioned the contest, which over the years has provided some spectacular competition, and An tAthair has been in attendance for almost every one of them, most years as Chairman of an Coiste but latterly as Hon. President, an honour bestowed upon him in 1996. An tAthair had the great foresight a year or so earlier to invite the Louth County Committee to join forces with the Armagh County Committee, to form a Co Coiste. This duly happened and has continued to operate since.
An tAthair (never an individual to rest on his laurels) introduced other innovations to the day of the contest, namely the Poc Baire and individual skills competitions as well as musical pageants.
The GAA fraternity within the county owes a great deal of debt to a man whose drive and skill helped raise the profile of the game of hurling in the 60s and many of those juveniles who first took hold of a hurley stick in those years continue to promote the game in the county to this day.
The future of An Poc Fada would seem to be secure and when Gaels gather on the mountain for the annual event the name of an tAthair Pol will always be remembered with great esteem.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.

Paddy Hughes
Paddy (Jigger) Hughes’ death after a prolonged illness was met with great sadness among the Gaels of Louth, especially those who remember Paddy’s playing days with Darver Volunteers, his home parish team. When his playing days ended, Paddy continued to serve a game he loved by taking to refereeing.
His prowess in this area brought him into the intercounty scene where he enjoyed part of his career, but he also served the game in Louth at all levels from juvenile to junior and senior level. He officiated at a number of county senior finals.
Always of a pleasant disposition, Paddy could laugh and joke even through the most serious of matches, while still holding his focus on the job at hand. Great communication skills allied to a very good knowledge of the rules (and, when the occasion demanded, a touch of common sense) were attributes Paddy had in abundance.
He served for a number of years as Chairman of the Referees Committee during a lifetime involved in the Association.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.

Sean McGahan and Sean Curran
This last year has seen the club lose two former Chairmen within one month of each other.
Sean McGahon was one of the best clubman Seans ever had. He was a great motivator and a fundraiser for the club; he was the eternal optimist, always cheerful. No matter how bad things were going for the club Sean would see a way out of it. He played with the Seans for over three decades, winning a 2nd Division championship in 1958. He had the distinction of playing on the same team as his three sons, Gerard, Sean and Kevin (RIP). He also served the club as a committee member, selector and chairman. He received the Hall of Fame Award from the club in ’95. Sean also served as a Louth selector in the mid-eighties. The club was never short of a pitch of a set of goalposts when Sean was about.
No doubt he is now playing football in the sky.
Sean Curran was the oldest son of one of the clubs founding members Joe Curran. The family have a long association with the club. His brother Gerard was a selector and is a present committee member. Another brother Ignatius runs the youth side and that’s where the club’s present success stems from. Indeed his son was club captain in the 2001 intermediate final. Sean was a very good neighbour as well as a committee member, chairman, secretary and PRO. Every club needs a Sean Curran.

Compiled by Peter Brannigan