Sweeney, Sean
May 04, 2005
The Late Sean Sweeney
The death has occurred at Lodge Nursing Home of Mr Sean Sweeney, Creagh Road, Ballinrobe. Deceased has been suffering from poor health for many years and yet displayed exceptional courage and tenacity.
Sean, a native of Glebe Street, Ballinrobe was born in 1928. He emigrated to London in the late 1950s, where he found gainful employment as a carpenter. He married Mary Canny, a native of Dunmore and played football with St. Mary's Club. They returned to Ballinrobe in 1976, and Sean became deeply involved in the sporting life of the town, particularly in the boxing sphere.
Sean himself had shown considerable promise as a boxer in his early years, but a serious jaw injury sustained in his teens led to his premature retiral. His ability then found a ready outlet on the football field and his eminently competitive spirit was always at the heart of his committed service to Ballinrobe club. Outside recognition was also forthcoming, as he wore the county jersey at junior and senior levels.
Basketball was another of his sporting pursuits and fishing from the banks of the Robe was the lure in quieter moments. Sean became very closely identified with Ballinrobe Boxing Club on his return from England,and his expertise as a coach and trainer had a significant bearing on the club being able to boast of All-Ireland champions. He also involved himself in the administrative wing of the sport, and was Secretary of the Connacht Council and a member of the Mayo County Board. Serious illness failed to dim his interest in Ballinrobe's and Mayo sporting welfare.
His remains were removed from St. Joseph's Funeral Home to St Mary's Church, Ballinrobe, and members of the Boxing and GAA Clubs formed a guard of honour. The burial took place in the new cemetery, after concelebrated Requiem Mass on Monday April 25 and Monsignor Thomas Shannon, P.P. the chief celebrant, was assisted by Fr Michael Farragher, CC, Castlebar; Fr Martin Costello, Ballinrobe, and Fr Peter Walsh, Ballinrobe. Large crowds, representative of life in the region and beyond, attended the funeral on both days.
Sean is mourned by his wife Mary, sisters, Phyllis Walshe, Foxrock, brother Michael Nottingham, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives and friends.
Courtesy of the Mayo News
4th May 2005
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