Late Sean Boyle's funeral takes place in Ballyshannon

The funeral of the late Sean Boyle of Creevy, Ballyshannon took place today (Thursday) with Requiem Mass in St Patrick’s Church, Ballyshannon, concelebrated by Fr Vincent Finnegan and Fr Dermot Burke.

His death took place suddenly while out for a walk on Rossnowlagh beach on Sunday, 8th January.

The popularity and respect for the late Mr Boyle was shown by the large crowd present and also two large guards of honour formed by the local Aodh Ruadh GAA club in Ballyshannon and a second by the Melvin Gaels GAA Club, Kinlough, Co Leitrim.

There was a great representation of players from the teams that he had played and managed standing in the guards of honour.

Sean’s involvement with both clubs saw them lift senior county titles under his management, while Sean’s playing career was a long and successful one with Aodh Ruadh and St Joseph’s, winning four senior championships, an Ulster club title and an U-14 county title.

Sean Boyle in his coaching days

Born on February 1, 1968, Sean Boyle firstly went to the Convent school and then to the Rock for the remainder of his primary and secondary education at De La Salle.  It was there that he developed a love of Gaelic Games in particular, but he was interested in all sports.

He played mostly in the full-forward line, a place where you had to be brave back in those days, and it was his ability to score goals which led to Aodh Ruadh making the breakthrough to win senior titles in 1986 and 1987, bridging a 35 year gap.

In his Eulogy at the end of the funeral Mass, his son Anthony recalled the many days that he spent with him in dressing rooms as a young boy. “We always called him Sean, all three of us. He was never called dad,” said Anthony, who added that he was very proud of them when they graduated and went on to have families of their own.

He added that Sean had a great love of music and always had tapes in the car. He was very proud of his grandchildren and all of them had their unique way of interacting with him.

Anthony recalled his great wit and turn of phrase and for the last 20 years or so while he worked in the Holyrood, he never missed an opportunity to wind up his Bundoran friends.

It was fitting in his homily, Fr Finnegan finished by reciting the poem, ‘My Shift is Over’ by Mark Gregory, as Sean Boyle’s work as a barman ended at the weekend.

Apart from spending some 20 years working in the Holyrood, Sean had also worked in the Rubber Factory in Ballyshannon and later at the Fr Tierney Park when the development of the new changing rooms and press box was completed.

After his Requiem Mass, his remains were interred in the Abbey cemetery.

Sean is survived by his son Anthony (Louise), daughters Nicola (Mark) and Rhona (Peter), their mother Angela, grandchildren AJ, Catie, Micheál, Cormac, Liam, Richard and Eimear. Also sadly missed by his sisters Anne, Mai and brother Louis, nieces, nephews and all his extended family and his wide circle of friends.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.