The late Desmond Corrigan The death, which took place after a three-month illness at St Christopher's hospice, Cavan of Desmond Corrigan (51), a native of Springtown, Kinawley evoked genuine regret and sadness. He had otherwise enjoyed excellent health. He was a devoted husband to Kathleen (nee Scollan, Swanlinbar) and equally caring father of four sons and one daughter and lived at Gubnamadra, Swanlinbar. He was a son of James and Cecilia and one in a family of eight. There was an impressive family representation at the funeral, many of the chief mourners making long distances. Desmond and Kathleen were married in September 1975 in St Naile's Church, Kinawley (St. Mary's Swanlinbar was undergoing renovations at that time). They settled in Gubnamadra on his grandparents' home farm. He had been in America prior to this and, on his return, he looked after the farm, meeting his wife-to-be at a dance in Swanlinbar. Later, he was employed by Boxmore Plastics in Ballyconnell as a forklift driver. He loved both the farm and factory work but, above all else, his wife and family were preeminent. Outside of family, home and work, he had an intense interest in gaelic football, supporting his adopted club and county as well as his native Kinawley and Fermanagh. His eldest son, Seamus plays for the local St Mary's Club whose members formed a guard of honour when the remains were received at Swanlinbar chapel. He drove his children to underage games and delighted in watching them playing. Reading the newspapers and watching the news and sport on television, together with gardening, occupied whatever leisure time was left to him. A pleasant and quiet man, he got on extremely well with his new extended family. His death was particularly regretted by his mother-in-law, Mary Ellen Scollan who lived in a granny flat nearby. His father-in-law, Patrick Scollan died in 1970. He was extremely popular with his work colleagues at Boxmore who twice formed a guard of honour - when the cortege passed the plant on its way home and in Killaduff cemetery. In addition to the eight concelebrating priests for the funeral mass in St Mary's Church, Swanlinbar, other clergy joined the overflow congregation. The Parish Priest, Fr Donald Hannon was the principle celebrant and there was an impressive participation in the liturgy by immediate family members. They included the deceased's sister-in-law, Rita, a nun in South Africa and his own sister, Colette. At the burial plot, a relative, James Quirke played a lament on the pipes and, as indicated, his former Boxmore employees flanked the grave. Fr Hannon officiated. There was an impressive turnout by members of the Fermanagh senior football panel of which the deceased's brother, Dom is manager. The other officiating clergy included Fr Gerry Comiskey, CC, Kinawley who kept vigil with the family in St Christopher's Hospice for the final 18 hours. It gave them much-needed comfort. Desmond is survived by his wife, Kathleen; by his sons, Seamus, Dominic, Desmond and Colman and his daughter, Rita; by his parents, James and Cecilia, his brothers, Gerrard, Thomas, Michael and Dom and his sisters, Colette, Marion and Jacinta and by his mother-in-law, Peter ('P'), Joe, Kevin, Hugh and Brendan and his sister, Rita (Rev) and by a large extended family. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Michael Leyden, Swanlinbar. Courtesy of the Fermanagh Herald August 2003 Tweet

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