Mr. Seamus McCann

Seamus McCann’s life was one of generosity, hard work, community and selfless giving.

An illustrious figure he was always willing to assist others, he had a deep faith and was gifted with many talents: sporting, musical, practical, and administrative, the talent to encourage and to inspire, his talents were always used in the service of others.

Seamus was born in 1945; to John and Sarah McCann, Bigh, Coa, he was the eldest of nine children. And attended Coa school and Golan School, Trillick, Co. Tyrone. He first took employment with Fermanagh District Council. He was then employed by Stuart Burns, Enniskillen.

Eventually he joined Slack & Parr Ltd, Enniskillen where he served an apprenticeship in Engineering and made many friends who he was still in contact with up until his death. He married Annie McGoldrick from Kinawley and they set up home in Drumslow and later moving to Killee, Coa. They had two children Patricia and Daniel.

Throughout his life Seamus had a great passion for Gaelic football. He played for the Irvinestown /Coa under 18 football team that won the Under 18 Fermanagh Minor Championship defeating Newtownbutler in the 1962 final. Seamus continued to play for the Coa O’Dwyer’s junior team in the 1960s and played on the 1965 team that won the league and in later years was the club’s groundsman.

In the early seventies he was the captain of the Wolfe-Tones Gaelic football team, later taking the administrative role of vice-chairman on the team committee.

By 1974 there were two Gaelic teams in Enniskillen, the Wolfe-Tones and Enniskillen Gaels, it was suggested that both teams should amalgamate into one, after a number of meetings attended by members of the County Board subcommittee, the Enniskillen Gaels committee and the Wolfe-Tones committee it was a unanimous decision to amalgamate.

Seamus became Club Chairman of the Enniskillen Gaels. Seamus McCann along with Rev.Fr Terry McElvaney, John Vesey, Mickey Brewster and Brendan McManus, managed the Enniskillen Gaels Senior Football team.

After 48 years this highly skilled and impressive team won the 1978 Senior County Championship securing the much sought after New York Cup. This wonderful achievement marked a great union, and was a huge boost to Gaelic football in Enniskillen. Some of the team players went on to play football at County and International level. This win was a very proud moment for Seamus and all those involved with the squad, it became the abiding memory of an incredible team’s great victory.

Seamus was committed and uncompromising in his service as Club Chairman; he played an instrumental role in the development of Brewster Park.

Dedicating much of his time to the development of the Club grounds, which could only be described as a monumental task evolving from a blank canvas to housing playing fields, toilets, dressing rooms, clubhouse and car park.

During the development as well as being club chairman, Seamus took on various roles from project management liaising with various contractors, organiser, fundraiser, volunteer and on the opening of the clubhouse voluntary barman at weekends.

On January 10, 1982 Seamus chaired the first AGM to be held in the newly built clubhouse. During his time as club chairman, the club was awarded the AIB Class in the County award and also won the overall County Club award. Seamus was honoured to represent the club and the awards were presented to him by the then Director General of the GAA Liam O’Maolmhichill at a banquet held in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.

Seamus served as trustee of Enniskillen Gaels for over 30 years until his passing on March 15, 2021. And he remained an avid supporter. Days before his passing Seamus recalled what he referred to as the ‘fabulous days’ with the Gaels the good friends he had made many whom had gone before him and those who still remain working tirelessly within the club.

Enniskillen Gaels were blessed to have men with such vision, willing to step into the unknown in very difficult economic times, these men would revolutionise the club and provide a legacy which future generations could draw on for inspiration.

Seamus’s other life- long passion was music and in particular the pipes. He began attending practice with Coa Pipe Band at the age of six and was taught by the late John Tom Farry; through the band he visited many destinations and events such as street parades and band balls. In the early1980s Seamus joined Cavanacarragh Pipe Band where he worked tirelessly with Pat Murphy, Tommy Cassidy and Eamon Kelly to modernise the band.

For many years Seamus was on the committee of Cavanacarragh Pipe Band taking a variety of different roles and was the serving chairperson at the time of his death. Seamus played for many other bands including St Naul’s Pipe Band Inver, Sion Mills and St. Colmcille Derry.

He also had the great honour of playing solo for two Irish Presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese as well as playing in recent times with St Nauls’s band Inver at an event hosted at the Aras an Uachtarain by Michael, D Higgins.

Seamus was also very committed to the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (Fermanagh Branch) and was an active committee member, working hard to promote the music of the pipes and drums – especially taking an active role in the organisation of the annual Fermanagh Pipe Band Contest and other events over the years such as the Burns’ Night and the Hogmanay Ball.

On many occasions Seamus travelled to Glasgow green with the pipe bands and enjoyed the experience of the world championships particularly when his son Daniel was taking part playing with many top bands.

Seamus was well known to pipe at weddings, funerals and special occasions. He was a keen follower of traditional Irish music but it was Daniel's participation in Fleadh competitions that took Seamus and Annie to visit every county in Ireland.

Described by many as a gentleman who always inspired and encouraged children in music, his motto was “music is easily carried”. Seamus enjoyed travelling to his favourite locations London, Spain, Scotland and New York.

Seamus was a hardworking, quiet and unassuming man who was gifted with many talents; he lived life to the full.

The esteem in which he was held was evident by the large crowds that turned out as his funeral cortege travelled from his home to St Mary’s Chapel, Coa and the hundreds of Mass and sympathy cards received by his family. Seamus is survived by his wife Annie, daughter Patricia, son Daniel, daughter-in-law Catherine, grandchildren Owen and Mollie.