Tributes to man who helped hundreds of cancer patients

TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘great man’ whose work with a local charity has provided invaluable help to hundreds of cancer patients for nearly 40 years.

Vincent Meenagh (pictured), a native of Creggan who served as treasurer of the Termonmaguirc Cancer Patients Comfort Fund, died recently.

During his term, the charity grew into an important support network for people suffering from cancer, and their families throughout the Omagh area.

Mr Meenagh was also instrumental in developing Creggan Community Association, and establishing the £1.5 million An Creagan Cultural Centre, which opened in 1994, and of which he remained a director until his death.

In recent years, Mr Meenagh also helped raise funds for the Tara Centre in Omagh.

Chair of the Termonmaguirc Cancer Patients Comfort Fund, Joey Kelly, described Mr Meenagh as a ‘great man’, who was meticulous in his work for the charity.

“Vincent’s sudden death has deeply saddened and shocked all of us,” Mr Kelly said.

“He was deeply involved in our charity over many years, and supported many people with cancer and their families in a quiet and unassuming way.”

“Mr Meenagh’s work was 100 per-cent voluntary,” Mr Kelly added.

“His loss has left us with a massive void to fill, but we were blessed to have him for 38 years.”

John Donaghy, manager of the An Creagán Centre, said Mr Meenagh was a ‘committed community person’.

“He always wanted to help others, and was a very supportive board member. He was also a great friend, who will be sadly missed.”

Aged 69, Mr Meenagh lived his whole life in Creggan, and was part of a small group who emerged to develop the idea of An Creagán Visitor Centre to combat emigration, unemployment and the movement of people out of the area.

He was vice-chairman of Creggan Community Association in 1979, and chairman from 1980-1984, and remained an active member. He helped establish a pre-school playgroup, annual sports day, Irish dancing classes and music sessions, a youth club, dances and concerts.

Mr Meenagh joined the committee of Termonmaguirc Cancer Patients Comfort Fund (formerly Friends of Montgomery House) in 1985, and remained as treasurer until 2020.

Always keen to support charities, Mr Meenagh took part in the Belfast to Dublin Maracycle, as well as sponsored walks in Holland, which found the teams walking up to 32 miles per day.

In recent years, he became involved with the Tara Centre in their fundraising missions.

Mr Meenagh also served as chairperson on the joint Board of Governors committee of St Patrick’s PS Creggan/St Teresa’s PS Loughmacrory. He was committed to developing education in rural areas and supporting their growth.

He joined BT at the age of 20, and worked in the sales department.

He later became an engineer and trade union representative, before returning to sales in a management capacity.

After leaving the company, he worked with his former colleagues at MUST Communications in Omagh. He was educated at St Patrick’s PS, Creggan, Omagh CBS, Omagh Technical College and Belfast Technical College.

Mr Meenagh’s first wife, Margaret, lost her battle with cancer at the age of 26. The couple had one child, Mairead, who was 21 months old at the time. He would go on to meet and marry his second wife, Briege in 1988, and had a further two children, son Daniel and daughther Noelle.

Mr Meenagh is survived by Briege, three children, Mairead (son-in-law Connal), Daniel, Noelle, three grandchildren, Hannah, Mollie and Clara and his brothers, John and Tommy.