John Carlin RIP John Carlin,Crossroads , Killygordon , sadly passed away yesterday afternoon . He had not been well in recent times but the news was a shock . Here was a man who endeared himself to the entire community amongst his interests ploughing,greyhounds ,the GAA ,the local church and he was very pro active in the local St Vincent De Paul Branch but his deep love was athletics . A vibrant personality ,great company, a family man .In one of my last conversation with him he recalled coming down from the hills his words to compete in the local sports he was 12 yrs old he did go on to win the Ulster youth cross country in Armagh and indeed the story of the journey back in the late 40s or thereabouts to the event to meet up with his Strabane club mates , travel with and the long walk home was worth a book but he had his medal and his mother was there to greet him . It was well worth it . He was particularly proficient in the high jump and held the county jump record until his oldest son came along and broke it . He had settled down to rear a family at the Crossroads ,Killygordon married Eileen a nurse by profession and they had 7 children Sean,Eugene,Declan ,Deirdre,Martin,Bernie and Joseph . . Organised athletics came along in the early seventies and he embraced and supported this new opportunity of which he had experience in his youth . It began in this area with school athletics he officiated year on year firstly at Mac Cumhaill Pk and in recent years at the current Centre of which he was very proud . Great memories of the night he was installed as an honorary member ,his 80th birthday travelling through the country to athletics he was always great company . He had a busy schedule as the boys excelled at sport Red Hughs a team at one time that fielded 4 of the lads ,Sean an international athlete ,an Irish record holder who kept him up to speed on all developments . John loved and never missed the school sports I have a great memory of him watching grandsons James,Jonathan and Matthew battle it out at the front ,of himself and Eileen dropping in on a Boxing Day after the 5k for chat and to meet old friends . His contempories from this area that battled with him in the Strabane ac of that time were Vincent Gillespie,Liam Merritt,Cyril O Boyle and the late Francie Irwin amongst others .He was a regular member of the Valley committee during the period of initial development meeting at that time held in the Butt Hall training in the Gaa field indeed we organised Donegal cross country in the Cross on his land .Interestingly I remember a beautiful Summers evening when Sessiaghoneill N S held an athletics challenge versus Dromore N S in the field beside his home . A unique happening even to this day jumping ,running ,relay races . An element of history has gone with John and on occasions such as his passing you come to regret not sitting down and listening more attentively . We mourn for John but are happy to have known him regular visited his home and the welcome and the food from Eileen the conversations were enjoyed by us both . In later years the grandchildren rushed into the same house to show him their medals and tell their stories and he listened with pride and all went home encouraged to come back again and again . To Eileen the boys and girls ,grandchildren and extended family we extend our deepest sympathy . May he rest in peace .......P Mc G
Posted on: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 21:31:27 +0000
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