The late Jimmy Hannify Large Crowds pay homage to departed sporting hero A large crowd gathered in Drumlish Church to pay respects to one of Longford's greatest ever football players, Jimmy Hannify Senior. The crowd came from all over the country, made up of his large loving family, members of the Drumlish community local GAA figures, former team mates, local politicians, and people who met and knew Jimmy in his long life. Jimmy was best known as a dedicated and skillful footballer, who graced three decades with his skill and passion. Jimmy's football career was somewhat unique in that it incorporated an appearance in a Senior All-Ireland Final, a very rare achievement for a Longford man, when he played for Galway in their 1938 loss to Kerry, while stationed in the army barracks in the City of the Tribes. He also won senior championships with the North Longford club in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s and was very well regarded by all those who played with him, and watched him play. He played in the inter-county football with Longford, Kildare and Galway in his time. He was on the panel for the Longford Junior Home All-Ireland Final in 1937 and was due to be selected, however a dispute arose and the Drumlish players from the squad. The team went on to win the junior All-Ireland that year. Jimmy was in his time a Vice President of the Longford Co Board, and of Father Manning Gaels and was a well thought of man, who was invariably described as a gentleman. Nobody ever had a bad word to say against the man, who was also known for his passion for playing cards, and was also a handy darts player. He was not only a renowned sports man but a dedicated family man, who was known for his love of his wife, Mary, and their children. The Hannify family are a large family with Jimmy having six daughters, and three sons. They are a well known part of the Drumlish community and four generations of the Hannifys were at Jimmy's beautiful funeral ceremony last week, with great grandchildren present to see their great grand-daddy off. The strong sense of family of the Hannify's was always evident with Jimmy Snr making sure that his family grew up in a loving environment, and were instilled with a sense of hard work and fair play. They are known locally as a very well respected family, and a testimonial to the now sadly departed Jimmy Snr. He was a very proud man when his son, also Jimmy, was a star on the 1966 and 1968, National League and Leinster Champions and followed in his father's footsteps with great aplomb. The family affair continued when both Jimmy Hannifys were named on the Longford Leader Millennium Team, which was voted on by the general public, after a shortlist was published in the months before the turn of the century. To be so honoured by the voting public made the selection all the sweeter, and all the more justified Jimmy's title as Longford Football legend. The Hannify family's huge commitment to Longford GAA continued to this day with the late Jimmy's grandson, David, a key member of the Longford senior team and his brother, Colin, was also a member until recently. It was also a measure of the esteem that he was held in the local community and the county as a whole, that he was invited to throw in the ball at a special charity game held in 1998 for the 1798 bicentennial in Ballinamuck. He worked in An Post and was the Drumlish Postmaster for what seemed like time immemorial, with many a postman having learned their trade in the time that Jimmy Hannify presided over proceedings. The funeral mass was said by Fr Michael Bannon, and the large crowd thronged the church to pay their final respects to the gentleman footballer. Longford and Fr Manning Gaels jerseys were mounted on the top of the coffin, and were a poignant reminder of a man who gave so much on and off the field of play. His coffin was carried to the nearby New Cemetery in Drumlish. with a large crowd of mourners accompanying the legend on his final journey. A guard of honour was given to him as he left Drumlish Church, by former team mates and veterans of the Fr Manning Gael's Club, and representatives of the current players also, in a tribute that was much appreciated by the Hannify family. Courtesy of the Longford Leader August 2004 Tweet

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