O'Hagan, Peter
September 16, 2008
The late Peter O'Hagan
The death has taken place of well known Lissummon Gael, Peter O'Hagan, at the age of 79.
Peter was a founder member of South Armagh Farming Enterprises (SAFE) and had been ill for some time.
Husband of Philomena and father of Rosemary, Thomas, the late Sean, Peader, Paul and Eugene, his passing has bereft the local community of warm hearted, industrious and intelligent personality.
Renowned for his love of the "three Fs" - family, farming and football, "Big" Peter was a pillar of the community throughout his lifetime and represented Lissummon as a player on the old team and an official of the team that were reformed in the early seventies.
On the sporting front, he lived to see his two great ambitions realised, Armagh winning the Sam Maguire cup and Lissummon winning the junior championship.
Joe Kernan and his wife Patricia, as well as Mr and Mrs Ross Carr, attended the wake in deference to Peter's life long commitment to the GAA and to the genuine respect in which he was held.
Along with patsy McSherry of Poyntz pass, he founded the St Josephs under age team in 1977 combining the youth of Lissummon and Poyntz-pass, a team which is still going strong after 30 years.
Year in and year out he was the resident umpire for the Lissummon club at home and away and was always a constructive contributor to the well being of the game in the area.
Peter O'Hagan was a founder member of SAFE, reflecting his deep interest in agriculture. He was also promoting the welfare of the farming community and took an active interest in issues effecting agriculture.
He was also very influential in the creation of the new community Hall in Lissummon. Although his health was beginning to fade, he insisted that action must be taken and persuaded his sons to take an active role. Peader and Eugene O'Hagan of O'Hagan Construction built the foundations and Tommy and Paul equally helped with other aspects of the building.
His requiem mass was celebrated by parish priest Fr Sean Larkin and was perhaps the largest ever held in Lissummon chapel. Along with his immediate family and his grandchildren the other chief mourners were his brother John, sisters Mrs Teresa McCoy, Mrs Lily O'Brien, Mrs Maureen O'Callaghan, Mrs Rita Sands and Mrs Bernadette Gillen.
The Lissummon club and St Joseph's club along with the community Association formed a guard of honour as his remains were being removed from the chapel for interment - the final act of respect from a community in thanks for a life of dedication to the betterment of all.
Courtesy of the Armagh Examiner 16th September, 2008
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