A WIDELY attended Requiem Mass was held in the Sacred Heart Church, Irvinestown, last Wednesday, March 22, for Michael Scallon, a well known and highly regarded figure in the business, community and sporting life of the county. 

The 86-year-old, who held a host of offices during his life and career and exuded boundless enthusiasm and energy, passed away peacefully in Millcroft Nursing Home, Enniskillen, on Sunday evening, March 19.

Born in Coolaness, Irvinestown, on September 29, 1930, William Michael Scallon, always known as Michael, was a son of John James and Catherine Scallon.

He was educated at Irvinestown Primary School, before going on to Dominican College in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. He played rugby for Newbridge College junior and senior teams, and he also played for Leinster senior schools’ team, 1948 to 1949.  

He played for Enniskillen Rugby Club between 1948 and 1957. He was captain of the club’s first team from 1955 to 1956.  Michael served as President of ERFC from 1964 to 1969. He went on to be a Trustee of the Club from 1964 to 1994.  

He had also played Minor Gaelic Football for Fermanagh from 1948 to 1949. He was a founder of St. Molaise Accordion Band, and he was also a founder member of Irvinestown Chamber of Commerce. Michael became secretary of Irvinestown Chamber, 1964 to 1966, and he served as its President from 1966 to 1967. 

He was a member of Irvinestown Fairs and Markets Trustees, 1970 to 1974. Michael was appointed a Lay Magistrate in 1963, and he was made a Justice of the Peace in 1971.  He was appointed High Sheriff of Fermanagh in 1976.

Another office had been as Vice Chairman for the Western Panel of LEDU 1970 to 1978. He was Deputy Lieutenant for Fermanagh in 1985. He was a member of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland from 1988 to 1994. 

His church, the Sacred Heart had been very important to Michael and he had been a member of the church committee in the past.

A well-known businessman, he went into his father’s general merchants business in Irvinestown, J.J. Scallon and Sons, after leaving school in 1949. 

He was appointed manager of the store in 1955. In 1968 he bought out the business on Main Street and traded solely and successfully as William Michael Scallon until 1985 when he converted the department store into Irvinestown shopping centre.

After that he continued to run a successful estate agents business until his retirement.

In 1957, Michael married Anna Carolan from Aghabog, Newbliss, Co. Monaghan, and they had a family of six.

Predeceased by his wife Anna and their two sons, Stephen and Killian and Killian’s wife Pauline, he is survived by his sons and daughters: Catherine, Siobhan, Michael Jun, and Louise, and his grandchildren. 

One in a family of 15, he is survived by his siblings Kevin, Gerald, Colm, Mary, Damien, Bernadette, Brendan and Oliver, having been predeceased by Eugene, Francis, Josie, Packie, Seamus and Eddie. 

His Requiem Mass in Sacred Heart Church, Irvinestown, last Wednesday, was celebrated by his brother Fr. Kevin Scallon, his nephew Fr Paschal Scallon and Canon McGourty, PP. The funeral arrangements were by Jim Barnett, Funeral Directors, Irvinestown.