Hundreds descend upon Kildress to remember beloved footballer

SOME of the biggest names on the Tyrone music scene descended upon Kidress at the weekend to sing their hearts out in memory of the late Cookstown man and footballer, Matthew McGuigan.

Poignantly titled ‘A Festival for Matty’, the event took place on Saturday, at the Kildress Wolfe Tones GAC grounds, while a further fun day of sports and activities took place yesterday (Sunday).

Headlining acts included Two Degrees and Tiny Green Island, with further performances from the likes of DJ Mickey Quinn, Cara Monaghan, Cahir McKeown, Peter Loughran, Conan Gormley, Ryan McGarrity, and Brendan Mulgrew.

Additional activities on the Saturday line up included a seven-a-side minor boys football tournament, including 16 clubs from all across Ulster.

Funds raised at the event were distributed between five charities chosen by Matthew’s family, including Chest Heart and Stroke; Kildress First Responders; and Kildress Wolfetones, as well as Australian charities, Cormac McAnallens GAA – Sydney and The Irish Support Agency.

Speaking with the UlsterHerald, vice chair of the Kildress Wolfetones, Caroline Mullin-Beggs said that the club wanted to deliver an event that would ‘make his family proud’.

“Matty was very active and hands-on within the club,” she said. “He was a committee member, and, at 24-years-of-age, he was was senior captain of the team, as well as manager of our minor team.

“He was always extremely well thought of by all of us,” she said.

The fun day, which took place yesterday, featured bar facilities, hot food, inflatables, kids activities – and a huge crowd in attendance.

An Under-16 girls game between Kildress and Cookstown was held, with the Under-8 and Under-10 girls playing at half-time.

Furthermore, a series of Fitminds Sessions took place, ahead of a Senior Men’s match, which saw Kildress go head-to-head with a TTM All Star Team.

The event concluded with live entertainment, followed by Corky’s Big Bingo.

Matthew sadly passed away suddenly in December 2023 after taking ill just days after he moved to Australia.

In the wake of his passing, heartfelt tributes were paid across the community to the young Tyrone man, with the chairman of Kildress Wolfe Tones, Dominic McGurk, stating that that community was ‘devastated’ following his death.

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