The death occurred at his residence at 10 Drumclay Park, Newtownbutler, of Arthur Maguire, who passed away after a brief illness, in the presence of his family, on January 31. He was in his 54th year.

Arthur leaves his loving wife Anne (nee Brady), and three children, Alannah, John and Enya in 2nd and 3rd level education. He looked forward to the joy of his children maturing as he and Anne crept into senior years, but sadly that was not to be as God had other plans.

Arthur was a painter and decorator by trade and he brightened up many homes, not alone with paint, but with banter and good humour; his work on St. Mary’s refurbished church, three years ago, is much admired.

He always got on with everyone and he would have time for a chat; his tranquil nature endeared him to all.

Arthur was born in Derryginnedy and would always claim to be a country man, although a substantial portion of his 54 years was spent in the village.

Arthur was a son of the late Arthur senior and Eileen nee Mohan (who both died in 2002). The middle son of three boys, he is survived by his brothers, Brian and John, and he had three sisters, the late Carmel (Mrs. Leonard) who predeceased him approximately 20 years ago, Geraldine (Mrs. Maguire, Connons), and Dympna (Mrs. Maguire, Lisnaskea).

In Fr. King’s homily, Arthur was described as a quiet, inoffensive man, loyal to his faith, never missing Sunday Mass and regularly attending confession. He never gave in to his illness which showed his strength in faith. He was not one for complaining which was the character of the man to carry his own cross.

At the end of the requiem mass, Fr. King, the chief celebrant, introduced John Mohan from Corlatt, a school friend, and lifelong acquaintance, along with his siblings, of the Maguire family. In those tender years they were childhood best friends to be sustained for a lifetime.

John Mohan, a trained psychiatrist with the Southern HSE, delivered a comprehensive eulogy, acknowledging the friendship bond between the Maguires and the Mohans going back over 50 years. Reference was made to their long visits to each other’s houses during school holidays and their football games. John spoke about the quality welcome from each of their parents, which made it a pleasure to visit, and how sad it was when the Maguires moved the short mile to Newtown in the 1970s. Their daily trips to St. Mary’s Primary in Newtown, on foot, will never be erased from their memories.

John Mohan spoke of the compassion shown by Arthur and his family, for his late sister Angela, who was stricken with a terminal illness, and similarly to his brother Joe, who also went through a worrying period of illness. Their bond of friendship kept the families close.

John highlighted Arthur’s passion for wildfowling, his chairmanship of the Gun Club and his tutoring of new rookie members in approach and safety, as was testified by his great Gun Club friends, Morgan and Aidan, and the extensive membership of the club.

How poignant and ironic in John’s words that Arthur chose the closing day of the shooting season to pass away; it was also poignant that about three weeks previously, he spent a few hours out with his friends shooting at Corlatt. Arthur was also fond of fishing on the numerous lakes near Newtownbutler.

Along with his trusty dog Scout, he certainly enjoyed his wildfowling and fishing, and the gala night of weigh-ins and the banter.

Arthur would speak with enjoyment of the boat trips to Belturbet along with Joe Mohan and Fr. King, retracing the route of St. Comghall to Galloon and the enjoyable Stations of the Cross.

Early in his eulogy, John Mohan - who along with his brother Joe enjoyed medal-winning success, following on from their hard grinding in the football matches with the Maguires - spoke of the passionate games of football in their field close to the Maguire home. Those early games ignited a future passion for football in both families.

Arthur was a proud supporter of Newtown and Fermanagh football teams. He would miss very few matches at home or away.

He would speak of his annual pilgrimage to the first rounds of the Ulster Championship where the Gods were never on Fermanagh’s side. He was also very proud of his brother Brian, a stalwart midfielder for Newtown, who gathered in his career, a number of senior championship Division One and Two league titles.

He was traumatised when Brian’s son, young Brian Óg met his death in an unfortunate accident at work. Brian Óg was forging his way as a prolific midfield player for Fermanagh and had won an All-Ireland club title medal with his club, Lisnaskea Emmetts a few months earlier. Arthur was very proud of a portrait of Brian Óg, which adorned the living room wall, in his Fermanagh kit.

In further mention of the family footballing connections, the late Arthur’s son John and Joe Mohan’s son Niall are the current First Fermanagh midfielders and both have worn the county jersey in senior competitions.

In the conclusion of John Mohan’s touching eulogy, which sustained prolonged applause, he spoke of the great privilege and honour it was for him to be asked by the family to deliver the eulogy.

John thanked Fr. King for allowing him the opportunity to express himself in praise of Arthur and sympathy for his grieving family. Arthur was a great husband, father, brother and uncle and a tremendous support to his own parents in their declining years.

In a final tribute, John Mohan quoted the famous words spoken by Senator Teddy Kennedy at the funeral of his slain brother Bobby, “Let him not be immortalised in death, moreso than he was in life.” A fitting tribute quote, concluded John, for a man who was big in stature, big in generosity and big in heart.

The requiem Mass was con-celebrated by Fr. Michael King, a personal friend, and assisted by Canon Eddie Murphy PE. The cortege from his home in Drumclay was flanked by a huge guard of honour, formed by his colleagues from the Newtownbutler Gaming Gun Club, and by the First Fermanagh’s GAA Club for whom his son John is a current player.

There was a huge gathering of relatives, neighbours and friends from Fermanagh, Cavan and Monaghan in attendance at the funeral, estimated to be one of the largest in recent history at St. Mary’s.

Requiem music and vocals were provided with excellence by Maria and Rose Connolly, Wattlebridge, on violin and flute, giving a solemnity to the mass and a traditional embracement to the reflection.

The funeral arrangements - by McAvinney Brothers, Newtownbutler - were conducted with respect and dignity; Arthur was laid to rest in a plot adjacent to his parents.