The Late Seamus Horkan Seamus Horkan, who was born at Spencer Street, Castlebar, passed away peacefully on February 23rd, aged 63 years. After leaving school he worked as Clerk with Roadstone in Castlebar, he was then appointed assistant court clerk in Drogheda where he met and married his wife, Kay Cullen, a member of a large Drogheda family. Later they moved to Ballina when he was appointed court clerk in the Ballina District Court area and after a few years he secured a transfer back to Drogheda where he continued in the service until his retirement. On retirement both Kay and Seamus started a successful delicatessen business until he retired, again to take an interest in the local history of his adopted town joining the F.A.S. project " The Voices of Drogheda" as supervisor. The object of this group was to record in audio and video the social history and heritage of the district, the aim was to establish an archive of these stories that would provide an insight into present and past history of the district. In this capacity he with his group published many varied aspects of Drogheda life, among them a treasured publication of the "Story of Drogheda Rowing Club" which ceased to exist in the early 1970's but this publication and a Millennium Regatta being held in conjunction with the publication sparked off an interest in rowing again on the Boyne. His sporting career was as exceptional as his social interests. Gaelic Football, Hurling, Rugby, Boxing - in each reaching distinction, from playing with the "Pearses" in the school town league, representing St. Gerald's Secondary School and later O'Connells schools in Dublin. He won county senior with Castlebar Hurling Club in 1961, with Castlebar Mitchel's at minor, junior and culminating by winning a senior county medal in 1963. He enjoyed telling stories of their various trips to places like the Aran Islands and the Unites States. Boxing with Castlebar B.C. at Juvenile, Junior and Senior, gaining County and Provincial titles, continuing in Drogheda with the local club and eventually gaining the ultimate honour of wearing the green singlet boxing for Ireland. The green Irish singlet was among the gifts presented at his Requiem Mass. During his early days in Drogheda he took up rugby and also played it while in Ballina, on return to Drogheda he represented the local club and County Louth, winning a senior Leinster cup medal with Co. Louth in Lansdowne Road. He is survived by Kay, his wife and best friend for 37 years, sons Shane and Jonathan, daughters-in-law Heather and Saragh; brothers Peter, Patsy, Sean, Eamonn and Henry; sisters Bettery O'Neill and Alice Fox. Seamus will be mostly remembered for his gentle way, happy and quite disposition, and the way he accepted his illness and suffering, with resignation and preparation to meet his God at the end. May his noble soul rest in peace. E.H. Courtesy of the Western People March 15th 2005 Tweet

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