The late T.J. Farragher Sad news spreads fast and it was early on a recent Monday morning when word arrived that T.J. Farragher had died suddenly the night before at his home in Ballynew, Claremorris. It was unbelievable and the sense of shock and sadness was palpable all around the region. Earlier the same evening, T.J. had attended the funeral of Nancy Dixon in Claremorris and before that had enjoyed 18 holes of golf at his beloved Claremorris Golf Club. I first got to know T.J. when he arrived in St. Colman's College as a member of the teaching staff. His brother Frank started school the same day as myself and we spent the full five years in the same class. Frank died tragically in a road accident in Switzerland five years ago. He had lived in that country since the mid-to late l970s. T.J. was one of a number of former pupils of the college to join the staff that year. It was a major departure as, prior to that, Martin Hession was the only lay member of staff in St. Colman's. As a biology teacher, T.J. was in the top league. He had a wonderful grasp of his chosen subject and over the years achieved some marvellous grades for his students. In later times, he also excelled at agricultural science, a subject close to his heart as he always retained a special fondness for the rural way of life and people raised on the land. T.J. had a good rapport with the students. They, like many more always knew where they stood with him. He encouraged them in every way possible to make the best of their respective strengths. He was extremely proud of St. Colman's and was actively involved in various aspects of life in the college, both academic and sport, down through the years. Garrymore heartland: Garrymore was the springboard that made the Farraghers' of Gardenfield synonymous with gaelic football in South Mayo. And in 1974, T.J. had the very special honour of captaining Garrymore to their first ever senior football crown in Mayo. Jimmy Nally, writing in "The Garrymore Story" published some years ago, recalled that "T.J. Farragher was brilliant at Centreback" in the 1974 final. He went on to state: "At last the dream had been fulfiled and all Garrymore celebrated and cherished the moment. T.J. Farragher received the cup. The team had played to its full potential by playing outstanding football to a man. Again, the Fr. Martin Newell influence cannot be overstated in planning this fine display and, indeed the timing of the preparation of the team to perfection. "Celebrations were rife in Garrymore for the next month as the team did a tour around the various villages with the cup. Excitement reached fever point bonfires blazed at all the corners in Scardaune, Ballyglass, Roundfort Bushfield, Annefield and Carras and over 400 people attended our Christmas dinner dance in the Welcome Inn in Castlebar." In 1975, both T.J. and his brother Ger played for Mayo in the Connacht championship. That was the year that Sligo defeated them by a point in the replay at Castlebar. He was a selector with the Mayo Minor team which won the All-Ireland in 1971 and was also South Mayo secretary for a number of years. While T.J. gradually eased out of football by the end of the decade he maintained a passionate interest in gaelic games and the red and white of his beloved Garrymore. Great love for golf: The following decade saw him take a growing interest in golf and he went on to become one of the leading players at the club, captaining various teams to provincial and other honours. He also served a term as captain while his wife Geraldine was also the recipient of the honour of Lady Captain some years back. Golf was to play a huge role in his life and he was much to the forefront in developments at Claremorris Golf. He was a great man to encourage young people to take up the sport and promoted the game at every opportunity. Fiercely competitive, he gave every game 100%. That was his nature, a trait ingrained in him since his teenage days with Garrymore. But from once a game was over, be it football or golf, it was in the past. Time to move on. Gardenfield was the spiritual home of the Farragher clan. A farming family steeped in the tradition of the land. They were also heavily involved in political affairs and T.J.'s father, Murty, was a long-time friend of the late Henry Kenny, father of current Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny. As in sport, T.J. was always ready to stand his ground in defence of his sincerely held beliefs. Sense of loss: While the community will miss T.J., it is his wife Geraldine (nee O'Hara from Foxford) and their daughters Lydia, Annah and Sarah his mother Brigid and brothers and sisters who will miss him in a very special way. He was at the heart of their life and was proud of all of them and their achievements .... and he delighted in seeing the twins playing gaelic football to a high level. The huge attendance at the funeral ceremonies in Claremorris was truly reflective of the sense of loss which swept across the region. Fr. Fergal Cunnane was the chief celebrant at the concelebrated Requiem Mass and Fr. John O'Gorman, President of St. Colman's delivered a lovely homily (The homily was carried in full in a recent issue of the "Western"). The principal of St. Colman's Martin Casey, and Pat Noone sung beautifully at the Mass and the local Parish Choir excelled in a special way on this sad occasion. Among those taking part in the huge Guard of Honour were the students and staff of St. Colman's, and members of both Garrymore GAA Club and Claremorris Golf Club. Interment took place in St. Colman's Cemetery. Deepest sympathy is tendered to Geraldine and the girls, Lydia, Sarah and Annah, his mother Brigid, brothers Murt (Kilkenny) and Norman and Ger (both in Naas), sisters Deirdre O'Byrne (Kill, Kildare), Valerie Callaghan (Castlerea) and Barbara Chambers (Dublin), mother-in-law, aunt, uncle, in-laws, nieces, nephews, colleagues and students at St. Colman's, and his many friends from various walks of life. * Billy Fitzpatrick, a colleague and long-time friend of T.J's from their playing days with Garymore, paid a beautiful tribute to T.J. on Mid-West Radio. Billy recalled the golden days of Garrymore football and the leadership qualities displayed by T.J. back then. * Another colleague, Padraig Flannery from Garrymore, paid the following brief tribute. "T.J. was a great friend and a man I deeply admired in life. In 1970 when I joined the Garrymore setup he was my first trainer. "He was extremely dedicated to the development of underage football within the club and county. I always found T.J. to be firm but very fair on the football field as a trainer. For me growing up, T.J. was my idol, he had the talent and skill as a footballer with strength to match. In 1979 when I won my first county senior medal, T.J. was a substitute but after the game I can vividly recall his generous words of praise and his congrats." * Willie McHugh from Ballinrobe recalls the impact made by the team captained by T.J. on the young people of the region back then. "I'm fairly certain they captured the imagination and admiration of most football followers around South Mayo regardless of whatever club we came from. "To me, that Garrymore team was an unbeatable outfit and they represented everything good about Gaelic football. And even to this day, fellas like Mattie Joe, Billy Fitz and Danny Dolan are still the same down-to-earth lads they were back then. "They were all part of a great group of heroes from Garrymore who left a good and lasting impression on me at a time I was just beginning to appreciate all that was good about football. Magic days that are gone but not forgotten." Courtesy of the Western People June 2004 Tweet

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