The Late Hugh McLoughlin MANY tributes have been paid to the late Hugh McLoughlin, 'Inver', Ballinode. A native of Drumkerrin, County Leitrim, the late Mr McLoughlin lived in Sligo for over twenty-five years. A builder by trade, he operated a very successful construction business in Dublin before moving to Sligo in the late 1970s. He purchased The Leitrim Bar on the Mall in 1988 and developed it into a thriving business. It became a mecca for sports fans, particularly those who followed Gaelic games and it was also a popular venue for students at Sligo IT, many of whom benefited from the proprietor's kindness and advice. Mr McLoughlin had a great interest in the welfare of young people. He sponsored IT G.A.A. teams and travelled to many of their games all over the country. An active community worker, Mr. McLoughlin was involved in a range of worthy projects in the Calry area but undoubtedly, his greatest legacy is the contribution to the promotion of Gaelic Games in the area. A life long G.A.A. fan, Mr. McLoughlin devoted endless hours to Gaelic Games activities in the Calry/St. Joseph's area. He took particular interest in underage affairs, coaching and encouraging young people from the area, and he was also an able administrator. Coaching In the early 1980s, he got involved in juvenile coaching with Pascal McGowan, guiding the Calry/St. Joseph's club to their first under-age North Divisional title in 1987. In 1988, following a recommendation from the City Board, he took a leading role in the setting up of structures to organise and engage the youth of the full parish, consisting of Forthill, Ballytivan, Cartron and Calry, in Gaelic games. He gave sterling service to the club at various levels over the years, serving as Chairman of Bord na nOg and the senior club for over twenty years. He was an enthusiastic worker in areas such as fund-raising, coaching, technical assistance, fieldwork and sponsorship. He also represented the club on the City Board and the County Board. He was one of the driving forces behind the development of the excellent community facilities and playing fields at Calry and he was proud to be the Chairman of the local G.A.A. club when they opened their new grounds in 1996, an event which was attended by the then President of the G.A.A., Mr. Jack Boothman. AWARD In 1988, the late Mr McLoughlin received the prestigious Ciba-Ceiga G.A.A. clubman of the Year award for County Sligo. He was also Chairman of the Club when it won the AIB Club of the Year Award in 2001. A proud Leitrim man, he took an active interest in G.A.A. affairs of his native county and one of his greatest moments was when Leitrim won the Connacht Championship in 1994. Only last month, he shared in the great success of the Calry/St. Joseph's Intermediate team which won the County Championship for the first time in the club's history. Members of the Sligo Borough Council passed a vote of sympathy to the McLoughlin familyat a meeting in City Hall, where Hugh McLoughlin was described as a 'very special and outstanding community activist and supporter of the G.A.A'. OUTSTANDING Councillor Jonathan McGoldrick said Mr. McLoughlin would be sadly missed by his wife Nancy and family, and by the wider community which he served so well. Proposing the vote of sympathy, Clr. McGoldrick recalled that Mr. McLoughlin was a great supporter of the local Calry/St. Joseph's G.A.A. club and was 'a gentleman of the highest order.' The motion was seconded by Councillor Chris MacManus, who stated that while he did not know Mr. McLoughlin well, he was aware of his outstanding work in the community. He extended his personal sympathy to Mr. McLoughlin's wife, Nancy, and to his daughters and sons, Fergal and Killian, with whom he would have gone to school. Councillor Rosaleen O'Grady said that Hugh McLoughin had done a huge amount of work for Bord na nOg and Calry and also offered her sympathy to his wife Nancy and family on his untimely death. "I knew Hugh from his involvement in under-age football and I know the amount of time and effort he put in. "He also helped build a magnificent community and sports centre in his local area," she added. Councillor Tom McLoughlin said Hugh McLoughlin's death had come as a great shock to a lot of people. He had been a very, very successful business man and builder, but was also a great community activist in Calry for many, many years. He came from Leitrim and always had his roots there, but he became actively involved in the G.A.A. in this county at all levels, where he did a tremendous amount of work. His passing has caused great sadness in the Community, added Clr. Mc Loughlin. Councillor Sean Mac Manus noted that while Hugh McLoughlin was a great supporter of the G.A.A. he was also a great lover of everything traditional and Irish. "He was also a great Leitrim supporter and named one of his businesses after his native county," he said. The Deputy Mayor Councillor Jude Devins joined in the vote of sympathy. Mr. McLoughlin is survived by his wife, Nancy, sons, Fergal and Killian and daughters, Orla and Anne-Marie. Courtesy of the Sligo Champion, November, 2004. Tweet

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