Great shock in South Mayo after sudden death of popular man

The news of the sudden death of John Halligan, Garryduff, Ballindine, last Monday was received with profound sadness and shock around the region. John was a retired member of the teaching staff at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford, where he was held in such fond regard by colleagues and students.

John (pictured) was the gentle giant who was held in such high esteem throughout the region and whose gentle nature and empathy with people was always to the fore. Outside of his profession as a teacher and love for his family and the GAA, John also had a great love for the land and had many friends among the local farming community. He had been out on his tractor on the farm just a few hours before his sudden passing.

Davitts GAA Club, with whom John had a close association stretching back to the formation of the club in the mid-1970s, was among those leading the tributes to a man who rendered many years of devoted service to the club. “We would like to extend deepest sympathies to Mary, Shane, Darragh, Oisín, Eimear, Gráinne and the extended Halligan family on the sad passing of John. He was a great clubman and managed several of our underage teams over the years.

“John was a selector with the Davitts intermediate team that won the county championship in 1981. He was a committee member for several years and served as secretary of the club in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Rest in peace John,” said a statement from the club.

Mary and Val Glynn from Ballindine were among the many that joined in the tributes to John. “He was a true gentleman and a dedicated community person. As chairman of Ballindine NS Board of Management for many years, John was an excellent team player, committed to improving all aspects of school life.” Frank Clarke said it was a pleasure to have known John. “He was a true gentleman, highly intelligent, witty, and a community man who loved the land. He worshiped his family and grandchildren.”

Reposing was in Carey’s Funeral Home, Ballindine, on Thursday evening. The funeral Mass in St Joseph’s Church, Ballindine,was celebrated on Friday morning by Fr Sean Flynn, PP, and Fr Martin O’Connor, former PP, with interment afterwards in Ballindine Cemetery. John, who was predeceased by his parents John and Dilly, his sister Catherine and his baby son Andrew, will be greatly missed by his wife Mary (née Gilligan, Ballyglass, Mayo Abbey), sons Shane, Darragh and Oisín, daughters Eimear and Gráinne, daughters-in-law Catherine and Emer, son-in-law Kevin, Gráinne’s partner Billy and Oisín’s partner Bridgette, sisters Mary, Ger and Patricia, grandchildren Saoirse, Cathal and Caoimhe, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.