Shock, sadness, devastation and disbelief were just some of the emotions which swept across the parish and wider community on Thursday night of the untimely death of St Patrick's club stalwart Brendan McConville. It is always difficult to attribute any understanding or reason to the death of a man so long before his time and, in Brendan's case, his death will create a deep sense of loss which will be felt throughout the community but most keenly within his own family.
There is no words which can properly do justice to the immense contribution which Brendan McConville made to the GAA in Cullyhanna and I can state with great certainty that it was no coincidence that his arrival on the footballing scene in the late 1960s ushered in an era of unprecedented success for this club. The first major feat of his long and lengthy career was in reaching the first every Armagh U16 championship final 1965. Although defeat was to be their lot on that occasion, and a year later in the Minor final, given Brendan's footballing ability it was never likely to be long before major success would come his way.
He contributed to the winning of 4 South Armagh minor titles in a row between 1966 and 1969 and served with great distinction on the Armagh Minor team which won the 1968 Ulster Minor championship beating Derry 408 to 107 at Casement Park. In 1970 he played on the Cullyhanna Senior Team which won the Division 2 title. In a era of previouly unprecedented success for the club, Brendan McConville was invariably to the fore and he played at corner forward on the team which annexed a first ever Intermediate championship for St Patrick's in 1971. Indeed he was to grace St Patrick's senior team for well over a decade and many within the club fondly recall the elegance and skill of his play, as well as the dedication which he showed throughout his career.
He was the right half forward in 1974 when St Patrick's contested their first ever Senior championship semi-final and at the end of the decade he continued to play a vital role in the St Patrick's team, playing corner-forward in the 1979 victory over Mullaghbawn which brought Brendan his second Intermediate championship medal. He earned his third Championship medal 9 years later when St Pat's once again defeated Mullaghbawn in the 1988 final. However one of Brendan's proudest moments on the field must surely have been when he lined out for St. Pat's alongside his three eldest sons, Mary, Gary and Neil, in the 1990 championship match against Killeavy.
When the curtain closed on his magnificent playing career, Brendan did not drift away from the scene but played an integral role within the club as an underage manager, helping to impart his deep knowledge of the game to the youth of the community. Indeed the McConville name was to become synonymous with Gaelic games in the area as Brendan transferred his love of Gaelic football to his four sons, Neil, Gary, Mark and Barry. There is no doubt that Brendan took great pride in their magnificent efforts in the Cullyhanna jersey over the years. Indeed it is testament to the deep regard which the McConville family have for our club that all four of Brendan's sons took up management roles in Senior and Underage teams at ages long before such commitment could reasonably be expected.
When our Social club was being built and voluntary labour was required, Brendan's skills as a tradesman was badly needed and he was always quick to respond to requests for assistance. Indeed I can recall arriving at the club for Minor training only for Brendan, who was then out manager, to inform us that training could not go ahead as he was needed to lay foundations for the new building. He could not be in two places at once yet such was his dedication to the GAA in Cullyhanna that no doubt he was tempted to try.
Brendan was constant fixture at matches in the club over the years, supporting his sons and indeed all players who wore the Cullyhanna jersey which he had so proudly borne previously. His jovial nature and good wit will be sorely missed in the weeks, months and years to come.
We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Roisin, Sons Neil, Gary, Mark and Barry, daughters Brenda and Aileen, his mother Rosaleen his brother Kieran our esteemed former Chairman and Secretary and his other brothers, Raymond, Dermot, Emmett and Declan, his sisters Marie, Olive, Josie, Leon, Noeleen, Gemma and Caroline.
Ard dheis de go raibh a anam dilis.

Courtesy of the Armagh Examiner
19th May 2011. Tweet

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