Sean Canavan Sean Canavan of Ballygawley was the husband of Sarah and father of Kieran, Barry, Margaret, Agnes, Stephen, Nuala, Martina, Bronagh, Pascal, Peter, the Tyrone captain, and Joseph. Sean passed away after a short illness. Sean was 75 years of age and born and raised in Green Hill, Ballygawley. He was one of nine siblings. Sean had a brother, Kieran, living in New York whose son was tragically killed in the Twin Towers terrorist attack. His sister, the late Claire, was a Holy Rosary nun and is buried beside Sean. Sean's other sister's include: Ita Kilpatrick of Pomeroy who is the mother of former Tyrone player Enda; Betty Kelly of Dungannon; Carmel Kelly who owns the Aran Bar in Burtonpoint; Celine Mallon of Dungannon, married to Brendan Mallon of Dungannon, who had a butchers in Irish Street; Eileen McGirr of Ballygawley; Maureen who lives in England and the late Mena Dynes of Dungannon. Sean had a small farm and a butchers shop in Ballygawley for many years and although he suffered heart trouble in the early seventies he lived a relatively healthy life until his recent and sudden illness. He was best known for his GAA connections and played Gaelic football in Tyrone for St Ciaran's Ballygawley and for some clubs in Monaghan. An honourary president of Errigal Ciaran, he was a great observer of life, always with his own particular spin on things and was a great commentator on GAA games. Sean was the biggest supporter and, at times, the biggest critic of his sons' sporting prowess. Sean's funeral was held in St. Malachy's Church, Ballymacilroy, where he has been baptised. It was attended by a wealth of well known GAA faces, including Armagh manager Joe Kernan who came up from Dublin after his team's success on the previous day. Speaking at the funeral on behalf of Errigal Ciaran, the club's chairman Cathal McAnenly paid tribute to Sean's commitment to the game, to his own 'distinguished playing career' and to the vital role which Sean played in the formation of Errigal Ciaran in 1991. "The team's subsequent success on capturing the O'Neill Cup was something which Sean cherished not just as a father who had four sons members of that successful panel," he said. The death of Sean Canavan is deeply regretted by his family circle and many friends. 31 July 2003 Tweet

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