Freddie McIntyre, a familiar and much-loved character, known far and wide as the life and soul of the party. Full of fun, Fred was always one for a bit of mischief and enjoyed the craic with his mates, but above all else he was known as a loyal friend and a much-loved brother and son. In more recent years, Fred’s world centred around his two young boys, Tristan and Jonah. A devoted dad, he cherished every moment with them and saw them as his greatest achievement! However, in 2022, Fred’s life took an unexpected and devastating turn when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. What followed was an incredibly challenging period of intensive chemotherapy and treatment. Just as he reached the end of this journey and things began to look more hopeful, Fred was dealt another cruel blow — the lymphoma had spread to his brain, despite this happening in only a very small percentage of cases. Though the outlook was uncertain, Fred showed remarkable determination. Refusing to give up, he faced a gruelling series of procedures including multiple tests, lumbar punctures, scans, further treatment, a stem cell transplant and even a brain biopsy. Against all the odds, Fred has come through this battle and is now cancer free. While he has not regained full cognitive function, his strength and resilience have inspired all who know him.
Having experienced first-hand the vital support provided during such a difficult time, Fred and his family have spoken of the immense impact of Macmillan Cancer Support. Determined to give something back, Fred recently took on a sponsored walk to raise funds for the charity.
The response from the community has been overwhelming, with generous donations and messages of encouragement. Fred and his family have expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the kindness shown.
Special thanks have also been extended to local businesses across Loughgiel, Cloughmills, Armoy, Dunloy and Glenravel, who kindly supported the effort by hosting sponsor sheets and helping to collect donations.
Fred’s journey is one of courage, resilience and community spirit — a story that has touched many and continues to inspire.
Fred has always had strong ties to Loughgiel Shamrocks, where he played hurling in his younger years. A proud member of the club, he holds an Under-21 Championship medal and remains a passionate supporter of both the hurlers and the camogie teams, continuing to follow their progress closely.