The death took place last month of Kevin "the Tailor" MacCann, a well known character in the Trillick area. He was in his 92nd year. He was born in Liffer, the youngest child of Paul and Catherine MacCann (nee McGurren).
Kevin attended Grannan school and won a scholarship to further education. He was always a keen reader, with an ability to consume lengthy historical novels at one sitting.
But, on the day he was to travel to board in at Omagh CBS, he walked instead to his uncle-in-law's farm in Kilnock to learn how to plough with horses. He became an expert ploughman with either horse or tractor. He loved living in Trillick, among his own kind of people. He once remarked that Trillick was "a corner of heaven". Anything else never were priorities.
He was a charismatic and light-hearted man, with a sharp wit, a ready smile, an ability to read people and to get on with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Kevin was for many years a professional musician with the 'Moonlight Dance Band' along with his brothers, Harry and Frank, and, others.
He was particularly noted for his prowess on the 5 row button accordion, and adjudicated at early All-Ireland fleadhanna.
Every year he holidayed in Kerry with his regular musical companions. In his later years, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann presented Kevin with an award in recognition of a lifetime's "service and dedication to the promotion of Ireland's native culture."
Behind the scenes, Kevin was a committed and active Republican for most of his life. He was interned in Crumlin Road in the 1950s.
Kevin played football for Trillick and for Tyrone minors, and along with his good friends, the McSorley brothers and the McAnespies, he went to most All-Ireland finals. He delighted in the many county successes of the great Trillick team of the '70s and 80s' and Tyrone's break-through All-Ireland success in 2003.
He is survived by his nephews and nieces, the MacCanns, the Coyles and the Murphys, to all of whom he was a dearly-loved and lifelong confidant, mentor and inspiration, and by a wide circle of other relatives, neighbours and friends.
He was pre-deceased by his sisters, Moira (Mrs. Coyle, Belleek) and Peggy (Mrs. Murphy, Cloncandra) and by his brothers Paul, Harry, Frank and Gerald.

Fermanagh Herald, 21st August 2013 Tweet

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