The Sean Curran "The most honourable man I ever knew". The words from Fr. Tommy Curran's homily during the concelebrated funeral mass of the late Sean Curran, summed up perfectly a personality whose passing was mourned but whose life should be celebrated. The large congregation in Letterkenny's St Eunan's Cathedral and the constant stream of friends and acquaintances who called to the Curran home at Lower Main Street since his passing underlined what he meant to the local community and beyond. On one of the warmest days of the years so far, the stories abounded and the tributes continued as they gathered to acknowledge the 79 years of one of the town's most amicable individuals. "He was never mean or dishonourable to anyone", Fr. Curran declared - a sentiment to which all in attendance could relate. Sean's days as chief reporter with the 'Derry People' newspaper brought him, naturally, into contact with countless people, news events and circumstances but he never allowed his position to unnecessarily downgrade anyone. Fr. Tommy recalled his prowess as a footballer both with his beloved St. Eunan's and the county team. He had, he maintained, been a general on the pitch who directed the game. When he hung up his boots and took up the pen as a sports writer it was to provide a fittingly " perceptive analysis" of all the matches he covered. The chief celebrant remembered too the assembly of news gatherers that on many an occasion got together in the premises of Toyland and the Donegal Printing Company - Sean Curran, John McIntyre and Liam Conoghan, a trinity all now departed from this life but no doubt sharing memories, stories and much banter in the next. Fr. Tommy mentioned the late Sean's devotion to both his family and his faith. In this respect he was the "happiest and richest's man' in the world, he maintained. Assisting at mass were Fr Francis McLoone, Fr Willie McMenamin, Fr Aodh O'Halpin, Fr Pat O'Connor, Fr. Donal Bennett, Fr Gerard Cunningham, Fr Sean Gallagher and Fr. Mark Coyle Fr Curran presided at the graveside at Conwal Cemetery assisted by Fr. McLoone. And the sun continued to shine - a fitting memorial to a man who brought so much into so many lives. Sincerest sympathy is extended to the bereaved including Sean's wife Nora; sons Denis and Patrick, daughters, Mary, Siobhan, Bernadette and Louise; brothers Liam; Fr Leo and Michael; sister Eilis (Donnelly), daughters-in-law, Tara and Eva; sons-in-law Ray and Paul; grandchildren and all other relatives and friends. Courtesy of the Donegal Democrat 21st April 2005 Tweet

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