It is with great regret and sadness we recall the death of Michael Logan, Annaghderg, Gorvagh, following a brief illness bravely borne with christian fortitude in the loving care of the doctors, nurses and staff of Sligo General Hospital. Michael was born on January 7 1921 to his parents John Logan and mother, Bridget nee Gilmartin who came from Gowel. He was the third eldest in a family of five with John, Pat, Tom and Eileen the youngest. His birth took place at a very volatile and emotive time in Irish history. The Irish war of Independence was at its most ferocious and dangerous period. The brutality of this war would expose itself very close to the Logan family at Annaghderg. Just over a month after Michael's birth on Friday March 11, in the neighbouring townland of Selton six members of the south Leitrim volunteers were killed in ambush by British forces. Michael grew up with the birth and emergence of the Irish state and throughout his life he had a great recollection of Irish history and politics. It was a joy to be in his company as he recalled these many past events. Michael attended the local Adoon National School. His teachers were Master Charlie Flynn and Mrs Mulligan. Like most boys of his generation he would have quit school at around fifth or sixth class. In those days not too many went on for further education. The emergence of the Irish State would need all the help it could get if it was to survive and hard manual work and self-sufficiency was the key to progress. Families like the Hogans would rally to Ireland's call and it is thanks to their hard work and survival skills that the Irish state came through its infancy and became the Celtic Tiger we know today. Michael who had a tall and athletic build was well-suited to the many manual and skilled tasks that came his way. On his graduation from Ardoon NS, he would have helped his family and neighbours with the many tasks on their small farms. He also got a part-time job at the local merchants Murphys of Gorvagh. Christmas was an especially busy time at Murphys who were major turkey buyers and exporters. Michael's strong hands would have dispatched many a turkey! Following a period at home and at Murphy's, Michael learned his trade as a butcher at Hugh Logan's, Mohill. Often times he would reminisce on the many stories of the trade and the buying of cattle in such places as Strokestown and walking them home which was over 20 miles to Mohill. His next job was at the construction of the ESB Power station in Ballyshannon, Co.Donegal, where he worked at steel erecting and shuttering. The construction of Ballyshannon power station would have been a vital cog in Ireland's power supply. Remember in Michaels time rural Ireland had no electricity and indeed it would be well into the 1960's before electricity reached the majority of rural Ireland. Following the construction of the Ballyshannon power station, Michael worked at Dromod railway station. Another job requiring good physical power and stamina, the main task was shifting coal from the Cavan/Leitrim narrow gauge train lines to the main line wagons by men with shovels. There was never any mechanisation of coal handling at Dromod and throughout the line's entire history the only way to transfer the coal was with shovels. During the Second World War, when fuel supplies were a particularly vital commodity and in the collieries if Arigna got a big contract to supply coal, say to Dublin, there might be several specials a day to Dromod with coal. It would be intense, energy sapping work on the men with shovels but they were equal to the task. Michael and his comrade Willie Notley gained a reputation as very competent workers. Many a story Michael could relate about the work at Dromod and the narrow gauge. Indeed the line ran close to his home with a request halt at Adoon. Throughout his life, Michael gave great service to his community he was a member of the Gorvagh Fife and Drum Band. The band was founded and trained by Patrick (Pakie) Donnelly, who was a great musician and music teacher. The band had the honour of playing on the occasion of the 1946 All-Ireland junior semi-final between Leitrim and Kerry in Carrick-on-Shannon. He also took part in plays and concerts at the local Gorvagh hall. He had a great recall of local stories and folklore. Michael also supported many of the farming organisations. He was a member of the Gorvagh National Farmers Association and in 1967 he was on the march to Dublin where farmers marched for recognition from the government. He took part in the Farmers blockade of Rooskey bridge. Thanks to the efforts of Michael and his farming colleagues the Government of the day were forced to accept the farming body of the NFA now known as the IFA. He was very proud of his local Chapel, St Joseph's, Gorvagh, where he was a member and which renovated the church in 1974 and 1987. He also took part in Gorvagh Civil Defence. In 1959 Michael married Mel Conlon from the Fuinshinagh area and together they settled on their farm at Annaghderg and reared their family. He took a keen interest in all sports but the GAA was his real favourite and when his club or county was playing you certainly knew what side he was supporting. I suppose growing up in Gorvagh, GAA had to be in your genes. Michael was born into the golden age of GAA in his local club, Gorvagh Brian Boru's. Gorvagh was a legendary club in Leitirm football. Their outstanding achievement was winning four senior championship titles in a row, 1924 -1927, which has never been achieved by any other club to date in Leitrim. Like the great kerry teams in the 1980's they almost made it five in a row. They lost to Annaduff, 2-1 to 2-0 in 1928. In this game they were without the services of their county stalwart Jack Bohan who was in Dublin visiting his sick brother. When Leitrim won their first ever Connacht title in 1927, the Gorvagh club supplied most of the players with Jack Bohan, Jimmy Reynolds, Peter Murray, Bernie O'Neill and Michael Casserly on this famous county ream. It was into this rich vein of proud historic achievement that Michael grew up a young boy. Following great success the club in the following decades had great difficulties in fielding teams. Whenever they did get a team, Michael lined out with them and played in goals. In 1946 he won a junior league medal and in 1947 they reached the junior league final where they lost to Glenfarne. While he worked in Ballyshannon he played with Aodh Rua where he was also a goalkeeper. With the arrival of his two sons, Michael and Sean, who played at all levels for Fenagh's St Caillins, Michael's interest in the GAA was rekindled. Following the demise of the Gorvagh club its players would register with Fenagh. His son Sean is currently coach of their senior squad. From 1985 to 1991 Michael was a selector along with Caillian Ellis and Donie McLoughlin. Anyone who was with Michael on the sidelines knew his passionate support for the GAA. If you played well, praise was due, however, if the club was not performing he would not be slow in voicing his displeasure. Praise and criticism came in equal proportions. At the time of his passing Michael was one of the joint presidents of Fenagh/St Caillins. Michaels remains, draped in the Gorvagh colours of blue/yellow and Fenagh's red/black were removed to his beloved chapel, St Joseph's, Gorvagh. A guard of honour was provided by many GAA friends and members of his local community to which he had given such dedicated service. The funeral took place following requiem mass to St Caillins Abbey Cemetery, Fenagh. His mortal remains are laid to rest in the old section of the graveyard close to its ancient abbey. To his wife Mel, sons Michael and Sean, his sister Eileen all relatives and friends we offer our deepest sympathy on their sad loss. Courtesy of The Leitrim Observer. August 2007 Tweet

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