The Late Charlie McNally Friends and family will gather for the funeral of popular Brackaville man, Charlie McNally. Recalled as a keen sportsman, and a devoted friend and neighbour, Mr McNally will be laid to rest following Requiem Mass. The well known Brackaville man maintained close ties with his local GAA Club, the owen Roes, throughout his life. Family friend, Johnny Corey, former Brackaville Owen Roes Chairman, described the 87 year-old as "a wonderful man". "Charlie was a very athletic man when he was younger; he was a runner and a boxer in his early days, and was involved with running the boxing club in Coalisland", Mr Corey told the Tyrone Times. "And of course, Charlie's sons Cathal, Patrick and Martin were all boxers, too, following in their father's footsteps. "He was the manager of the football club in the mid 70s when Brackaville played Moy, and of course, there was a conflict of interests there because the famous singer, the late Eileen Donaghy, was Charlie's sister. All Eileen's sons played for Moy at that time so it was a case of a conflict in family loyalties! "Charlie was also in the dogs in a big way; he was great friends with Frank McGirr, owner of Shanless Slippy, and had greyhounds himself. He prefixed all their names with 'Roughan'. Johnny said it was unfortunate that Mr McNally's health had already begun to deteriorate when Brackaville Owen Roes celebrated their 70th anniversary in recent years. Remembering his friend as a man of great faith, Mr Corey said Charlie McNally was highly regarded throughout the Coalisland parish. "Charlie was a great man with the parish", continued Mr Corey, "and very much involved with the church. He gave out the Rosary at 10am Mass and was a great friend of Father Rice (former Parish Priest in Coalisland)." Charlie McNally is survived by his wife Brigid, sons Cathal, Patrick, Martin and Sean, daughters Marie, Kathleen, Anne, Alice, Patricia, Christine and Eileen, sister Sally, grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family circle. Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Mary and St Joseph's Church, Brackaville at 11am with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Courtesy of the Tyrone Times 5th May 2009 Tweet

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