The Late Seamus Reddan The warrior chief has shook off this mortal coil with ease and has moved to the higher spheres of out eternal home. His departure creates a vacuum not readily filled. I refer to that truly outstanding parish, community worker, who contributed a lifetime of dedicated service and planning to Quin and Clooney and the surrounding areas, to the man unofficially regarded as the lord mayor of Quin, Seamus Reddan. Seamus was the true prototype of the happy warrior, the man for all seasons. He seemed to consistently do a huge amount of work of service to family, friends, neighbours and to a wide spectrum of clubs and organisations. His great and abiding interest was Gaelic games, in particular hurling, which he loved. He was a fine hurler and in 1942 at the age of 21 was proud to be a member of the Clooney, County Clare title-winning team with Mick Hennessy, Paddy and Joe Mack, the Smith O'Hallorans, Mick Power, Austin Hannon etc. Thereafter, for over half a century he, more than anyone else, supplied the organisation and work dynamic to ensure the smooth functioning of the club. A selector too, at various times, he served not alone his club but also Clare teams. He filled all the major offices in the club and kept ancillary clubs such as Spancilhill, Carrahan, Maghera and Quin encouraged. Between 1945 and 1947 he was to the forefront in the acquisition of six acres from the Land Commission for a pitch at the present grounds, opened in 1948 with a big game between Ahane (with Mick Mackey) and Clooney. It was a source of pride to him and he worked hard at its development. He was very happy to participate in naming the park after his worthy friend, Mick Hennessy. At county board meetings he made his presence felt. Its well I remember being his junior partner in the defence of an objection to Tulla on the legality of our team after we had in 1959 scored a notable victory. Always full of stratagems, Seamus conjured up a sufficient technical rebuttal to have it thrown out. He was the main organiser of the hall committees, worked diligently with his good friend, Frank Gordan, in running a vibrant branch of Muintir na Tire. I still vividly recall Seamus leading our question time team round the circuit on frosty nights as we won three county titles. He loved being involved in club-sponsored walks supporting people with much sought refreshments. The truth was that everyone who needed assistance invariably turned to Seamus and never, I believe were refused. Of Clare teams, his ethic of service was phenomenal. One more example will suffice. After a period of flirtation with Dublin colours, Clooney decided to revert to their historic green and red colours chosen by Mick Hennessy at the start of the club's golden age. At the time £12,000 was needed to kit all the teams in our growing club, called on Seamus and without a moment's delay he wrote a cheque for £1,000. Typical of that most social and successful business he was unquestionably the most generous and gregarious of men. Most nights he held court in a favourite hostelry in Quin and there the cheer, the banter and good company and the "craic" were enlightening and led by Seamus. It seemed totally appropriate that such a scene heralded his final exit. He departed home in good form and that night, to borrow the words of Scots' poet Robert Louis Stephenson, he went "foaming over the eternal precipice". Entirely fitting! Seamus was a great family man and was proud and caring of his beloved Nancy, who pre-deceased him and their children. No doubt, he will be specially missed by Ina, always at hand to make life better in the latter years. And, I've no doubt that his jovial good company will be a much felt loss to Frank (McInerney) and Bertie (Brodie), Like the three Musketeers, they spent many happy days travelling the circuit to savour the heroics of the saffron and blue. Seamus now joins the fourth horseman, Martin Ryan, already departed and one can imagine they will keep a watching brief on things below. Is annamh a fheictear duine mar Seamus "Ridain the quintessential happy warrior, his leadership qualities were in so many ways unique though he didn't suffer fools gladly" It sometimes occurred to me that his ancestry was a direct lineage from the Salcassian Rodain: a chief, as in the past one though of his old camrade, Paddy Mack, whose natural air of dominance, made his seem a direct descendant to the princely McNamaras. Imaginative thoughts, one might think, one the role of outstanding personalities. In iothlain De, go gcastar sinn go leir or ball. A final thought on Seamus; when the lord had produced Seamus, I guess he broke that mould for the future. Men like him are that rarity that one has to ask, "whence comes there such another?" Brendan Vaughan Courtesy of the Clare Champion 6th January 2005 Tweet

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