The late Seamus Doran A man who meant everything to the people of Mooncoin passed away. There have been glowing tributes to the memory of the late Seamus Doran, St Jude's, Mooncoin who passed away. The 91-year-old lit up the parish when he arrived there in 1946 and involved himself in every facet of life there. Married to Kathleen, he will be missed by his beloved wife, daughters Marie, Noreen, Kitty and sons Seamus and John as well as his in-laws, grandchildren and other family members as well as the wider community. Seamus played a leading role in the establishment of the country's leading farming organisation. Over 51 years ago, he and three others; Pat Corcoran, Jimmy Vereker and Pat Dunphy created history when they drew up a motion for Macra na Feirme to sponsor a new organisation now know as the Irish Farmers' Association. But it will be as the principal of the local vocational school (now Colaiste Cois Suire); as chairman of the GAA Club; as chairman of the local pioneers association and as a supporter of everything that was good about Mooncoin for which he will be best remembered. Local community activist Hilary Delahunty said Seamus Doran was the biggest loss that Mooncoin had suffered for many, many years. He said it spoke volumes of Seamus that the late All-Ireland winning hurler, "Drug Walsh, from Mooncoin gave Seamus one of the hurleys with which he won a senior All-Ireland for the county. Kilkenny Co Council chairman Billy Ireland said Seamus Doran was a pioneer and a man who put his community and the people who lived in it before himself. "He was a one-off, never to be forgotten," Cllr Ireland said. Ned Quinn, chairman of the Kilkenny GAA county board, said Seamus was a hugely respected figure in Mooncoin GAA, serving as chairman as well as selector and trainer of the senior team. In boarder terms, he said Seamus played a significant role in all aspects of parish life. "In terms of education, he was responsible for bringing in night classes and had a huge positive impact on generations of Mooncoin people as principal," Mr Quinn said. In 2002, President Mary McAleese paid tribute to him when she arrived in the village to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Foroige meeting in the country. The first meeting of Foroige (originally Macra na Tuaithe) took place in Mooncoin Vocational School on March 14, 1952 with Seamus Doran as chairman. It was Seamus Doran, along with others, who first developed the idea of the clubs rural youth which would help prepare them for life after schooldays. Seamus himself said he always felt thankful for the opportunities he got. "And if I could help others in any way to get on on life, then I would do it" he said in an interview. Hurling was Seamus's favourite sport and he went about setting up a hurling team in Hackettstown, Co Carlow in 1939, where he taught before moving to Mooncoin. When he came to the village in 1946 he immediately set about immersing himself in all facets of parish life. He served as a selector and trainer of the GAA senior team. Up to a few years ago he was honourary president of the Mooncoin Ploughing Association and used to help square off the site on the morning of the annual match. He was also a joint president of the Iverk Show and gave a life-time of commitment to the annual argrlcultural show, helping to revive it in 1950. In 1947, he started the South Kilkenny Beekeeper's Association and in 1962 took over as the editor of the national publication The Beekeeper. He was secretary of the National Fruit Growers' Association for 14 years. He was a founder of the St Vincent De Paul Society conference in the Mooncoin area. Some years ago, he was honoured by the late Pope John Paul II who decorated him with the Bene Merenti medal which was appropriate for a man who was a walking saint. Courtesy of the Kilkenny People 09 February 2007 Tweet

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