Higgins, John
June 30, 2010The death occurred on May 21st last of John Higgins, late of Brohar, Curry. Aged just 54, John's death has left a great vacuum in both his family and community where he was a pillar to the church, GAA club and every other cause of Curry.
A son of the late Paddy and Tess, John learned all about communicating with people early on in life as his father Paddy was a cattle and calf dealer and John learned that business from his early years with Paddy. Indeed when his father died as a young man, John continued the family business for a number of years, bringing calves from the South of Ireland to be reared by farmers in the West.
In his early 20's, John joined the Post & Telegraph company (later Telecom) and worked for them for nearly 20 years. Many of his colleagues from that period returned for his funeral. John took a career change and for a while ran a successful milk run prior to joining An Post where he was a most popular post man in South Sligo for nearly the last decade of his life.
Despite putting up a great fight with his illness over the last 12 months, he loved when possible to return to his postal duties and did his last deliveries just a few weeks before his passing. Much of his delivery area was Tubbercurry town and also part of Curry and Tourlestrane and he always had his feature smile for everybody.
Besides his work life, John had a sporting passion in his local Curry GAA club and in racing greyhounds. In his teenage years, he lined out for the Curry under age teams in the early 1970s and in due course graduated to the club senior team ranks where team mates included the five Collery brothers, Donal, Willie and Martin Brennan, Mick, Jimmy, and Terence Marren, Mick Conway, John Niland, the Gannon brothers, John Hayes, Owen Henry, Tom Coffee, Martin Connolly, Tom Collins, Tom Howley, Christy and Frank Wynne and the late great Johnny Stenson who went to his eternal reward less than 12 months ago.
Mainly playing at left corner back or full back, his educated left foot was renowned for pin point clearances from the full back line. John was a noted clean footballer and the writer had the pleasure of many man to man duels with John over the course of our careers. A handshake at the start and finish of the match was often interrupted by conversations on topics of the day when the ball was at the other end of the field. No quarter was asked of given by John or his opponent, but they always left the field better friends than they entered. So it should have been.
As well as playing football John also acted as Curry GAA club secretary for a decade from the mid 70s to mid 80s at a time when the club suffered greatly from emigration and consequent loss of young players, creating continual problems in fielding teams. However in adversity John and the club struggled on to make the club the great success it is today.
Greyhound racing and rearing is a hobby John took up as his football career waned and he and his friend Barry had many a day and evening on the dog tracks of Ireland. John could often be seen walking dogs on the Curry-Charlestown road, following the footsteps of deceased neighbours and former greyhound trainers Brendan and Seamus Johnston from neighbouring Ballyglass. John had notable dogs including Curry Rock, Curry Lass, Curry Bypass, In the kitchen & Come on Sister, and again he was able to attend Galway Track just a few weeks before his death to see his most recent charge Megans Supreme complete.
The greyhound fraternity from across Ireland called to pay their respects at his funeral.
The Church of the Sacred Heart, Curry benefited greatly from John's service and he was a regular reader and helper when help was needed and some years ago when the Church underwent major renovation John and a dedicated group of parishioners were on hand.
Of course family was most important to John. His beloved wife Martina and daughters Grainne and Roisin can be assured that they had a husband and father who was considered salt of the earth and his life will live long in the memory of all who knew him.
John Higgins was a gentle, kind, loving person who thought of his family and community before himself. His remains reposed at home following his death prior to removal to the Church of the Sacred Heart Curry, the Church to which he contributed so much of his time. Burial took place in the local Bunnacranagh Cemetery in glorious sunshine, symbolic of the warmth and light John brought to so many people over the course of his life. Sympathy is extended to Martina, Grainne and Roisin, sister Margaret Brennan, Rhue, uncles Leo and Christy, inlaws, nephews, nieces and many many close friends. May he rest in peace. Ar dheis de go raibh a anam.
Courtesy of Sligo Champion
30th June 2010 Tweet
