Gaughan, Darren
November 03, 2010South Sligo was mourning tragic death of talented young GAA player, Darren Gaughan, who died suddenly in Limerick, just weeks before his 18th birthday.
Darren, from Killure, Aclare, who was a first year mechanical engineering student at UL, became ill on Thursday and died shortly afterwards at Limerick hospital.
A member of a well known GAA family, Darren played at all under-age levels for his local club, Tourlestrane, and was on the senior squad which won the county championship in 2009.
His brother, Gary, is a member of the Sligo senior panel while another brother, Noel, has represented Sligo at under age level and is on the Tourlestrane senior team. His father, Leo was a stalwart of the Tourletrane teams of the 1970's and 1980's and was also a renowned hurler with club and county.
Regarded as one of the most talented young footballers in the county, Darren had already won a senior championship and Benson Cup medal with his club and was on the St. Attracta's College squad which won the Connacht Chanpionship and reached the All-Ireland final earlier this year.
Just a week before his death, he lined out for Tourlestrane in an Under 20 Championship game aginst Easkey/St Farnan's.
Poignantly, he was due to celebrate his 18th birthday, which falls next week, at a special party in his native Aclare last Friday.
Local parish priest, Fr. John Glynn, man with a big heart, a charmer who always had a smile and a laugh'. In a homily at the funeral Mass in the church of the holy rosary, Kilmactigue, on Sunday, Fr. Glynn said Darren had a short life but he lived it well. His death had left the parish numb and the village of Aclare stunned, he said.
'He was so young to die. Maybe that is the shock that strides most of us. So much ahead of him, so much to discover, to love, to enjoy and I suppose to suffer too because that is part of us, to learn, to give away', said Fr. Glynn.
The chairman of Tourlestrane GAA club, Brendan Leonard, said the local community was devasted by Darren's tragic death.
He said Darren was a wonderful young man, full of life and fun. He was crazy about football and was always available to answer the club's call. He was an exceptionally talented young footballer and a highly popular young man with old and young alike in the locality.
The church of the holy rosary was packed for Darren's funeral Mass as the community said its final farewell to a young man who had touched so many with his youthful exuberance, good nature and exceptional football ability.
Darren is survived by his parents, Leo and Kathleen, brothers, Gary, Noel and Liam and sister, Leonie.
Courtesy of he Sligo Champion 3/11/10 Tweet
