Glenravel stalwart Sean Fyfe, who passed away earlier in the week was a great servant to the Con Magees club, playing from underage right through to senior level. Football was Sean’s game but he also dabbled a bit in the hurling and was a member of the panel who beat Rasharkin in the Junior Hurling Championship final in 1981. That year Sean made it a double when he played on the football team that won the South West Antrim Championship, the O’Cahan Cup and he was there again 1986 when they beat Tir na nOg Randalstown in the final.
Tough as teak, Sean never took a backward step, a trait that came in useful in his other sport when lining out for Armoy Rugby Club. Like a good few of his Glenravel team-mates Sean joined players from Loughgiel and Dunloy who took the opportunity to play with the oval ball, for Brooke Craig’s men during the 1980s and 90s when his natural body strength proved a big asset. After taking a step back from the GAA Sean played on for a few years at Lime Park.
With his sister Patricia married to Loughgiel man Denis Campbell Sean became a strong follower of the Shamrocks and he was a great supporters of the Hurling and Camogie teams, especially when members of the Campbell family lined out. One of his proudest sporting moments was when his nephews Johnny and James Campbell lined out on the Shamrocks team that beat Offaly and Leinster champions Coolderry in the 2012 All Ireland final in Croke Park, Johnny picking up the Tommy Moore Cup with goalkeeper DD Quinn.
Sean Fyfe got a great send-off on Tuesday past when Glenravel PP Fr Paul Strain celebrated his Requiem Mass in his native parish church, Mary Queen of Peace. The large family gathering, many of whom took part in the ceremony made it special. We think of all them who were there on the day, with a special nod to his brother Frank,(another long time servant of the Con Magees), now resident in Australia, who was unable to attend.
Sean Fyfe was a good and decent man who touched the lives of all those who knew him. May the soil of his native Glenravel rest easy on him