The late Sean Prendergast The Mayo GAA Football Club and Irish community in New York have expressed deep regret at the passing of Sean Prendergast (80) who died peacefully at his residence in Sunnyside, Queens, New York on May 8, 2006, following a brief illness. He was a native of Garrymore. Sean met his wife to be, Mary Cummins, formerly of Ballydaff, Taugheen on the Britannica during his voyage to America to start his new life far away from the land of the shamrock and heather. Love blossomed as this couple got to know each other and four years later they were married in New York. On June 27, 2003, Sean and Mary celebrated their golden wedding jubilee with 200 guests, including 25 who were among the original guests on their wedding day back in 1953. The Prendergasts were socially involved in many Irish activities and sponsored many Irish benefit dances. They also loved music and travel and sailed the Caribbean on 26 cruises with the Gertie Byrne organised ventures. They had a family of two, Mary Josephine, who lives in New Jersey and who is married to Robert Rex, and John Jr who is a retired sergeant from the New York City Police Department. Both of his children were champion set dancers and pupils of the McNiff School of Irish dancing. They were also music champions and Sean and Mary were deeply involved in the organisation of Parents and Teachers, Musicians and Dancers Association. This helped bring together numerous Irish parents and children provided a very strong social organisation for the Irish. Such was their outgoing nature that Sean and Mary became one of the best known couples on this entire circuit. Sean belonged to a famous football family with the deep roots in Garrymore. He played many a stormer for his home club in his younger days and always carried that love of Garrymore as a badge of pride. He was one of the famous Magnificent Seven (which included his brothers Tom and Paddy) who craved their own special niche in the history of Garrymore football back in 1939, the events of which time have been recorded in full in history of the club. He attained great status with the he Mayo team in New York with whom he played for many years and to whom he rendered such loyalty and service. Some of his displays are part of Gaelic folklore in New York. His twin brother Tom, who died in Kilbanon, Tuam just three months ago, won an All-Ireland junior medal with Mayo back in 1950. News of Tom's death greatly impacted on Sean in the last weeks of his life. Sean and Mary made numerous trips to their homeland since their honeymoon in 1953. For over five decades, they were at the heart of so many good things in Irish and Irish-American circles in New York. They established a wonderful network of friends, all of whom were enriched by knowing this lovely couple, and all of who are diminished in some way by the passing of this noble gentleman. Reposing took place in Lynchs Funeral Parlour in Sunnyside, followed by Mass of the Resurrection at Our Lady Queen of the Angels. Sean was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery next to his late brother Michael. The very large attendance at the ceremonies were truly reflective of the special place Sean held in the hearts of so many in his adopted New York. He is survived by his wife Mary. daughter Mary Josephine, son John, brothers Paddy (Garrymore) and Martin (Galway), sister Maureen (Los Angeles), the extended family circle, neighbours and a legion of great friends. - MC Courtesy of The Mayo News 17 May 2006 Tweet

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