Death of 52’ Hero Fr Seamus in Birmingham

It is with great sadness that we record the death of 1952 football hero, Fr Seamus Hetherton, who was a native of Ballydurrow, Ryefield, Virginia. He passed away at his home in Birmingham last Thursday, July 11.
Fr Seamus was ordained on June 12, 1955, and was assigned to St George’s Cathedral, Southwark in England. Fr Seamus himself often recalled that it was just “10 minutes walk from Big Ben”.
He was educated at Ballydurrow NS, where his father was principal, and at St Finian’s College, Mullingar. He captained the school team that won their way to the Leinster Colleges final in 1947.
The highlight of Fr Seamus’s football career came in 1952 when he helped Cavan to victory over Meath in the All-Ireland Senior Championship final. It took two games to decide the issue as the first game was drawn. He lined-out in a half-forward line, which included Edward Carolan and team captain Mick Higgins, at Croke Park. They won 0-9 to 0-5 to win the Sam Maguire cup for the fifth time.
Fr Seamus was a member of the Cavan County team from 1951 to 1956.
He carried out his ministry in various parishes across England, before being appointed parish priest at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Birmingham in 2005. He retired last year, but Birmingham remained his home.
Fr Seamus never forgot his Cavan roots and was a regular at the annual Cavan Association in London annual dinner dance in the London Irish Centre in Camden.
May he rest in peace.

* Full obituary to follow