åThe Late Sean Ward Dungloe and the Rosses are still coming to terms this week with the shock and untimely passing of one of the area's most respected individuals Sean Ward. Sean who was 62, had been ill earlier in the year but was in great form in recent times and was in good health right up to his sudden death at his home on the County Lane. St. Crona's church in Dungloe was packed to capacity for his funeral mass on the Monday morning with his family and neighbours joined by his many friends and acquaintance from across Donegal. One of the local community's greatest servants he was involve in numerous organisation in the area from GAA to the town development, to Sr. Crona's Church Parish Church New Roof committee, and the Parochial Hall committee, while he also had strong ties with Fianna Fail. While he was a leading light in all organisations it was with the GAA that he had the biggest involvement. And not only was a great servant of Dungloe GAA club but he also made a valuable contribution to the association at county level. And this was very much reflected in the number of GAA people from all over the county who attended his wake and his funeral. "His death is a huge blow to the club, and we will sorely miss him," said a club spokesperson. "He was always full of energy and no job was too big or too small for him, let it be dropping in a set of jerseys into the laundry or a major job on the park. We will have great difficulty in finding some one to fill his shoes. He was also a great friend outside of football and was a person that people turned to when they needed advice or some chore attended to." In his long association with the local club he was held almost every position on the committee including chairman, public relations officer, parks chairman, and he has also managed teams from underage right up to senior. And he was up until the time of his death secretary of the Rosses Park Committee, and was the driving force behind the major development work currently under way at the grounds. He was also manager of the reserve team and mentor with the senior team as well as the club's representative on the county committee. At county level his finest hour came in 1991 with the winning of the Ulster minor title and he also spent a number of years as county minor board vice-chairman and served on numerous other committees. Born on the County Lane, Sean like so many of his age group was forced to emigrate as a teenager first going to Scotland and later moving to England where he worked in the construction industry. He returned home in 1980 and set up his own construction business. His remains were carried from his home on Monday morning to St. Crona's church by members of Dungloe GAA club and members of the 1991 Ulster winning Donegal Minor team, while Dungloe players and pupils from St. Crona's N.S. formed a guard of honour on route to the church. His funeral mass was celebrated by Fr. Seamus Meehan, parish priest Dungloe, with assistance from Fr. Neil Boyle Columban Fathers, Fr John McLoone, Frosses and Fr. John Joe Duffy, Glencolmcille. His remains were then taken to Maghery cemetery. Brian McEniff county GAA chairman Noreen Doherty, secretary and Charlie O'Donnell treasurer attended the funeral as did Ulster Council Treasurer Tom Daly from Ballyshannon. Sean is survived by his wife Ann (nee Doherty, Bogagh, Kilcar) son John and daughter Marie, grandson Darragh, brother Patrick, (Dungloe) sisters Mary (Dungloe), Brigid (New York) and Sheila (Glasgow). Courtesy of the Donegal Democrat 13th November 2003 Tweet

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