Tributes have been paid to Ederney “legend” Oliver Carron, an active member in the local community who was considered one of the village’s most “illuminating” and “compelling” characters.

Oliver passed away peacefully at the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen on May 10 at the age of 71.

A representative of Ederney Trust, a local community association in the village, paid tribute to Oliver: “Oliver was one of the village’s most illuminating and compelling characters who had lit up the lives of many through his jovial antics and good neighbourliness.”

Born on July 11, 1948, Oliver was the son of the late James and Catherine Carron and brother of Johnny and the late Margaret (McGread). He grew up at the ‘Old Parochial House’, his mother’s ancestral homestead, on the family farm adjacent to the graveyard in the townland of Edenclaw Little about a half-a-mile east of Ederney village.

“From an early age, Oliver created a myth around himself through his numerous amusing actions, captivating storytelling and incredible antics leaving the recipient spellbound by his life’s happenings whether real or imaginary – that was Oliver Carron as many will remember him,” shared the representative of Ederney Trust.

A former pupil of Ederney’s Moneyvriece Primary School and St. Mary’s Secondary School, Irvinestown he was not a person with any keen academic ambition, but he nevertheless contributed to student life in other ways. It was at the latter school at age 15 that his footballing skills came to prominence when he secured his position on the successful Senior Football Team in 1964. A legend in his own right, Oliver’s contribution to Gaelic football continued as a young adult when in 1966 he came on from the subs bench for Ederney St. Joseph’s Club team in the Fermanagh Intermediate Championship to score 1-1 to secure victory for Ederney 3-8 Aughadrumsee 1-7.

As a consequence the team qualified to partake in Senior Championship the following season. By September 29, 1968, Oliver was chuffed to collect a Senior Championship medal in that successful year for the club. In 1969 Oliver won a junior championship when Ederney defeated Brookeboro in the final. Team manager, Johnny Monaghan at the time described Oliver as a hardy but crafty footballer. He said: “Oliver was like a terrier dog on the field as he was always after the ball and when he got it, he wouldn’t let go until the opportune time was right.”

A skillful sportsman, Oliver also participated in amateur boxing having boxed at flyweight for the Dromore club in the 1960s. He was a founding member of Ederney Boxing Club in the early 1980s and later as the club chairman he relished the challenge to grow the club which succeeded in its early years in producing champions at both Ulster and Irish levels which provided the subsequent pathway to the international ring for the McFarland brothers, Raymond, and Colin. A man of many talents, he was initially a farmer but also worked for a number of years at his uncles’ blockmaking business as well as in roadworks contracting in England and locally during the development of, and later in maintaining, Ederney GAC’s playing field facility at Drumkeen.

“He was a reliable worker who took pride in doing whatever job he had undertaken whether that be caretaking duties at the parish hall or garden maintenance for the villagers. However, the job he really enjoyed prior to his retirement was during his stint at the village’s Spar shop. His last work role was to help at his cousin’s Corner Bar where his presence and jokey behaviour added to the great social and entertainment atmosphere in the venue,” explained the representative of Ederney Trust.

A public-spirited individual, Oliver was not long home from England in 1975 until he undertook many voluntary roles in the community.

“First of all, he quickly followed in the footsteps of church laymen, Johnny Monaghan and Pat Kelly in helping out with duties associated with Culmaine Parish’s services and events as part of the church assembly. Subsequently, he became involved with the local branch Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann who were involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music and dance. This set the pathway for his stage performances in compering which led on to his impressionist and comedian like contributions and these had taken him accidentally into amateur drama where he entertained many with his unique style,” shared the Ederney Trust representative, adding: “Many will also remember with gratitude the various roles he performed at Ederney’s festivals in which tens of thousands of pounds were raised for charitable causes.”

Oliver is very deeply regretted and sadly missed by his sorrowing brother Johnny, brother-in-law Fran McGread, sister-in-law Mary B, nieces, Claire (Vinny) Ceire (Brian) grand-nieces, Laoise, Keely, Maggie May, Aimee Rose and Zoe, extended Carron family and his many friends.

“All of Oliver’s contributions to the life of Ederney village whether in the community, in sport or as part of the church assembly were admirable, and his good neighbourliness along with his jovial demeanour has lit up the lives of many. As a community, we offer his brother Johnny and the extended Carron and McGread families our sincere condolences,” the Ederney Trust representative concluded.