Sadness at passing of well-known Ballyshannon footballer Thomas Quinn
Thomas was a member of the famous St Joseph's team and also a member of the Donegal panel that won the first ever Ulster championship in 1972
News of the death in Dublin of Thomas Quinn has evoked much sadness around the Ballyshannon area.
A native of St Benildus Avenue in the town, Thomas was very well known, especially because of his GAA connection, being part of the Donegal senior panel which lifted the first Ulster senior championship in 1972. His death occurred after an illness over the last 18 months. He was in his mid-70s.
His football career stretched over three decades. He has the record of being the only captain to retain the famous Bakery Cup (1962 and 1963) and he went on to represent Donegal at minor, U-21 and senior level.
He was also a member of the victorious Donegal Vocational School teams of 1964 and 1965. He was a member of the St Joseph's team during the 1960s and 1970s and even though based in Dublin, he returned to play club football with Aodh Ruadh, even into the 1980s when he was part of a Junior B team that reached a county final.
After his school days at Ballyshannon Vocational School, he joined the Air Corps at Baldonnell in Dublin. Later he worked for a German company and he travelled the country visting power stations in Ireland as part of his work.
In Dublin he was a member of the St Brigid's Club in Blanchardstown but it was a well-known fact that Thomas was available for play any evening, the colour of the jersey didn't matter.
In latter years he spent much of his time in Fanore, Co Clare, the homeplace of his wife Brid, something which he loved dearly.
Thomas was great company and was always the heart and soul of any party, a great man to sing a song. He will be remembered as a real gentleman, but also as a very accomplished footballer.
He is survived by his wife Brid; son John and daughter Marie; grandchildren Erin, Rose, Aoife, Niamh and Sean; brother Danny, daughter-in-law Ann Marie, niece Marguerite, sisters-in-law, cousins and many friends.
Thomas Quinn's team which won the 1962 Bakery Cup