One of Antrim’s greatest Gaels, Sean Martin, has passed away. If ever the term Mr GAA fitted anyone then Sean Martin was the man. He gave his life to the Tir na nÓg club and to Antrim GAA in general during a lifetime service. We reproduce a piece from the Tir na nOg club’s Facebook page which they posted just over an hour ago. We at the Saffron Gael offer our sincere condolences to the the extended Martin family and to all Tir na nOg club members
It is with heartfelt sympathy that we have learned of the untimely death of our Uachtarán an chlub (Club President), Sean Martin. Sean’s father, Arthur was a founding member of our club back in 1919 and Sean followed in his father’s footsteps by holding every position on our club committee, including club secretary for over 40 years. He also refereed for the club for many years and took an avid role in the lotto committee. We extend our utmost condolences to Molly and the whole Martin family. May Mary Queen of the Gaels pray for him.
Attached is a post from September 2017 when Sean was invited to take up the post as Club President. Tír na nÓg GAC honoured it’s 1st President Sean Martin last night. Friends, every club has a few people who seem to always be there doing both the seen and unseen work which is necessary to ensure any organisation continues to function and tonight we are gathered to pay a special tribute to one such person whose service has been exceptional both to our club and the wider association. That man is our very own Sean Martin. Sean’s father, Arthur was a founder member of the club in 1919 and its first secretary. As employment was scarce in the 1930s he along with his young family moved to Scotland for work where the rest of his family were born in Edinburgh. Happily he and his family returned home in 1946 and he, Arthur resumed his position as club secretary and retained that position until 1956. Sean took over the position in 1957 and held it for the next 41 years. He has also been in charge of the money end of our club lotto since it started almost 22 years ago and as every club will tell you that the most important fixture the club has every week is “lotto night” as that’s the income which holds everything together.
Sean has also played both football and hurling for the club, acted as a referee, danced in Scor representing the club for about 10 years, ran the set dancing class until he had his hip operation a couple of years ago, ran the whist drive every fortnight, cut the grass, marked the pitch, did the maintenance and basically anything else that needed to be done. Even more remarkably, during the 71 years he has been working for this club he has also been secretary of the South West Antrim Board, Secretary of the County Activities Committee (where he made the fixtures for all the clubs throughout the county), and when he gave that job up he took over as secretary of the County Discipline Committee.Sean, your service to both this club and the wider GAA has been exceptional and it is my great pleasure on behalf of the club to invite you to be our first ever Club President It was with great honour that we had the president of the Ulster GAA, Michael Hasson with us last night to present Sean with his presidential medal on the clubs behalf.
Sean Martin Thank-you