Derry GAA will today laid to rest one of its most devoted and passionate volunteers, Tommy McGuigan. The Swatragh club president passed away suddenly on Sunday, aged 82.

There were few happier men in Celtic Park a month ago, in Ballinascreen a fortnight later, than Tommy McGuigan was as he saw his beloved Swatragh lift senior hurling and intermediate football championships in the space of two weeks. Tommy joined the Davitt's club just after its formation in 1946 and he has been a lifelong volunteer. No job was too big or too small. He held the post of club chairman for a number of years and was also chairman of the South Derry Board in times gone by. Perhaps most famously, he purchased and erected the first set of goalposts at Owenbeg.

On a wet and windy Sunday morning, the ever spirtely Tommy dragged a gang of merry men across the mountain and in-stalled a piece of history at the then-new complex. Swatragh club chairman Liam McQuillan last night paid tribute to Tommy. "Tommy will be a phenomenal loss to the club. He has been involved with the club ever since it was formed back in 1946 and involved with everything to do with the club. He will be sadly missed by all the whole community, by all the players and the committee, and by the bingo crowd. That was one of his pet loves. "I had been talking to Tommy recently about having a dinner dance. Normally we wouldn't have one but because we had a bit of success this year, we decided to and he was mad looking forward to it. He loved to see a crowd of people together like that. "He is simply irreplaceable.

He was involved in everything. If there was a hole to be dug, you couldn't have got at it before him. We'll never get another clubman like him. "On behalf of the club, I offer our deepest condolences to all Tommy's family. He will be sadly missed," said McQuillan. Derry county chairman John Keenan also paid tribute to Mr McGuigan. "Tommy McGuigan served club and county for a lifetime. His absolute dedication to Davitt's Swatragh and Derry GAA was exemplary. If people want role models to follow in our association, they need look no further that Tommy. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered. On behalf of Derry GAA I would like to express my condolences with Tommy's family and friends, and all at Swatragh GAA.

I knew Tommy personally for a number of years. He was a pleasure to work with and an honour to have known." Tommy is survived by his wife Mary, sons Barry, Terence and Kieran, daughter Paula and loving brother of Johnny, Elizabeth and the late Patsy. His remains will leave the family home at 10.15am today (Tuesday) and requiem Mass will take place in St. John's Church, Granaghan.

(Text courtesy of Derry Post 30/10/12) Tweet

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