Tributes paid to Strabane’s Dan McGarrigle

ONE of Strabane’s most well-known GAA fans and the honorary vice president of Sigerson’s, Dan McGarrigle, was laid to rest last week.

Described as ‘a real character’ Mr McGarrigle was a stalwart of the game he loved so well, with the whole family having a lifelong association with the GAA.

A resident of Bridge Street, he was involved with GAA in Strabane from as far back as the 1950s when the club was known as Lamh Derg, becoming a committee member in the 1960s.

Life took Mr McGarrigle away to England for many years, yet he never forgot his roots nor the game he loved and, on his return from England he became an ever-present at games near or far.

Aodhan Harkin, a member of Sigerson’s, paid tribute, saying, “The town has lost a gentleman. Steeped in the GAA his whole life, Dan was one of the town’s true characters. Incredibly old school, Dan was the sort of man who, if he didn’t know you to begin with, by the time you were finished talking with him he knew exactly who you were or someone to whom you were related.

“He loved the craic and loved telling stories and jokes.

“There were many a time when I would pop into the shop, expecting to be only a few minutes, only to be waylaid by Dan as I was coming out.

“A five-minute message would take 20 as we’d be chatting so much. My condolences go out to the family. He will be sorely missed around the club and the town.”

The funeral took place last Friday at St Mary’s of Melmount with Sigerson’s holding a guard of honour as the coffin entered the church.