The death took place suddenly at his home at Drumlin Glen, Sligo Road, Enniskillen on Monday last week, 14th February of Cathal (Murty) Cornyn. He was 55 and single.
He was a member of a well-known Enniskillen family who ran a coal merchants business in the town and was a highly respected former playing member and member of Enniskillen Gaels GFC. He was a son of the late Murty and Margaret Corny who lived originally in Mill Street and, later, at Rossorry Church Road, where his father's coal store was based.
He was the only boy in a family of five.
Cathal was educated at Mullanveigh (Killesher Parish) and St Michael's primary schools before going to St Michael's College where he featured on its 1971 Rannafast Cup team. He was academically bright and armed with a handful of GCSE's, he studied for an OND in business studies at Fermanagh College before entering the Ulster Polytechnic to do his HND.
By the time, the family business had enlarged to take in milk and vegetable runs and carpet salesroom in Carrick-on-Shannon, and he joined his father, looking after the coal sales side. Following his father's death in 2000, Cathal carried on for another six years before stepping down.
But, his days were no less busy. His mother had died in 1981 and he assumed a father's role for his four sisters and, later, took a keen interest in the well being of his seven nieces and nephews and his grand niece, his uncle Michael, who is blind, as well as others outside of the family circle.
In more recent years, Cathal in -dulged in his love of travel and his flight booked for a six-week stay in Bulgaria, a favourite haunt, later this year. The US, France and Teneriffe were visited, but he liked the culture and the people of Bulgaria.
His caring and laid-back nature endeared him to everyone, especially those who shared his obsession with sport. He represented club (gaelic and soccer) and county with distinction. At county level, he was a member of the Fermanagh Vocational Schools side of 1973 while, at club level, he won a county U-21 GAA championship title with Enniskillen/ Coa. In '75, he won a Division 3 league medal and in 1976 and '78, the 'double' of league and championship. In the year between, his goal won a Intermediate Division 3 championship medal with the Gaels.
On the soccer front, he played in turn for Enniskillen Rangers, Enniskillen Town, Irvinestown Wanderers. He was a dab hand at snooker and pool, squash, poker (Texas Hold'Em), which he played and helped promote. He was an expert swimmer, he held a life saving certificate and he was a keen horse racing follower.
On Saturday morning last, the remains left his late home for the hugely attended funeral Mass in St Michael's Church, Enniskillen. The coffin was carried part of the way and the cortege diverted off the Sligo Road so it could pass his work place on Rossorry Church Road. There, a minute's silence was observed and this was repeated at Saturday night's NFL game in Brewster Park between Fermanagh and Longford.
The celebrant of the Mass, Fr John Skinnader was assisted by Fr Brian D'Arcy, CP, a family and footballing friend of Cathal. Each, in turn, gave a homily on and a profile of the deceased. The music and hymns were entrusted to Helen Hamill and family members fulfiled the various liturgical duties for the Mass.
After the Mass, Cathal's former playing colleagues on the Gaels team and the present executive committee, led by Mark Morris, chairman fronted an impressive procession all the way to the burial of Breandrum. Other club members lined Hall's Lane before falling in behind the principal mourners on the walk of Breandrum.
There, Seamus McCann, a friend of Cathal and a well-known piper, played the cortege to the graveside, 'Highland Cathedral' and 'Amazing Grace' being two of the airs.
Following the burial, at a reception for the family in Brewster Park, tributes to Cathal were paid by Mark Morris, on behalf of the club and by Sean Sheridan, the captain of the double-winning 1976 team. Cathal's sister, Jennifer and Ann Keenan, a lifelong friend responded.
Cathal was pre-deceased by his parents, Murty and Margaret and by is brother-in-law Thomas Knowles, Belfast.
He is immediately survived by his sisters, Jennifer ( Noel Goaley), Drumlin Glen; Colette Knowles, Belfast; Bernie (Dermot 'Sam' Corrigan), The Limes, Enniskillen and Christina (Alastair McKay),Ballydoolagh, by seven nephews and nieces and by his grandniece.
The funeral arrangement were carried out by Peter Carty.

Courtesy of the Fermanagh Herald
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