Galligan, Fr Peter Paul
July 31, 2004
The death has taken place in his adopted home of Sydney, Australia of Fr Peter Paul Galligan PP, late of Thomascourt, Cavan and a famous Cornafean and Cavan footballer of the early 1940s.
Born in February 1921, Fr Peter Paul received his early education at Corlurgan NS and St Patricks College, Cavan. He later trained for the priesthood at St Patricks Seminary, Carlow and was ordained on April 2, 1946, for the diocese of Sydney, Australia. He ministered for his working lifetime in various parishes in the Sydney region including the seaside community of San Souci where he lived for many years.
Fr Peter Paul was an illustrious footballer for both Cornafean and Cavan during an era when the fortunes of both club and county were at an all-time pinnacle. Although his football career was curtailed to an extent by his studies for the priesthood and ended prematurely following his ordination, he was a central figure on several notable teams of the period. He was a member of the All-Ireland winning Cavan team who defeated Kerry in the 1938 All-Ireland final on a scoreline of 3-3 to 0-8 and a year later won a McRory Cup medal with St Patricks College, Cavan.
He won four Ulster senior medals in succession with Cavan between 1942 and 1945 and played as a corner back on the county teams defeated in the All-Ireland senior finals by Roscommon and Cork respectively in 1943 and 1945.
He also starred in defence on the cornafean teams that won the Cavan county championship finals in 1940, when the locals defeated Killinkere and also in 1943 when they defeated Mullahoran. He also played in the celebrated 1942 final when Cornafean lost to Mullahoran in a game that was widely regarded as a classic and one of the highlights of the famous Cornafean/Mullahoran rivalry that immortalised Cavan football in the 1930s and early 1940s.
In later years he made frequent visits home from Australia, during which he regularly renewed his lifelong interest in football. He is remembered as a decent, gentle and kind man. We extend our deepest sympathy to his nephews, nieces and friends. A memorial mass for him was celebrated in St Felim's Church, Ballinagh.
Courtesy of the Longford Leader
July 2004
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