Condolences following passing of John Clancy

Cavan councillors have paid tribute to the late John Clancy, former owner of the Derragarra Inn in Butlersbridge.

Mr Clancy of Ballyconnell, New York and formerly Butlersbridge, passed away last month, on Thursday, October 19, peacefully, and in the loving care of his family and the staff at Cavan General Hospital.

Predeceased by wife Angela, parents John and Myra, brothers Patsy and Kevin and sister Norah; he is survived by his children Shaun (Kristy), Angela (Chris), Sinead (Noel), Gareth (Shelia) and Norma (Hugh); sisters Sr Teresa and Julia; sister-in-law Helen; grandchildren Ryan, Aisling, Emma, Caoimhe, Shauna, Cillian, Darragh, Oisín, Maia and Caelan; great grandchildren Leo and Nell, relatives and many friends.

After selling the Derragarra, Mr Clancy moved to New York where he opened Foley’s with son Shaun, a baseball bar opposite the Empire State Building in New York where he was fondly known as ‘Papa John’.

He later returned to his beloved Cavan where he lived out the rest of his days overlooking Ballyconnell.

Along with his interest in writing, Mr Clancy helped establish the first Cavan International Song Contest.

Tributes were paid to the legacy Mr Clancy left at the November monthly meeting of Cavan County Council.

The vote of condolence to his family was proposed by Fine Gael’s Trevor Smith, who said that many Cathaoirleachs had visited Foley’s over the years. “He was a true friend of Cavan,” said Cllr Smith of Mr Foley. “He’s a big loss.”

Cllr Val Smith (FG) said that during his time as the county’s first citizen Mr Clancy was “very helpful” to him; while Winston Bennett (FG) noted that the list of contacts the former publican had was “unbelievable”.

Patricia Walsh (FF) remembered that, after Mr Clancy took over the Derragarra, people would flock from across the region to see the work he was undertaking, including the once iconic thatch roof.

The late Seamus Fay

Tributes were also paid to our time All-Ireland lilter winner, the late Seamus Fay,

From Drumconnick, Cavan Town, he passed away October 18 at the age of 91 years in the loving care of his family and the staff at Cavan General Hospital.

Séamus’s remarkable talent was recognised at four All-Ireland Fleadhanna when he was crowned all-Ireland lilting champion in 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1969.

He picked up the art of lilting from listening to his mother and grandmother, both experts in the craft.

Earlier this year, Seamus received a Lifetime Achievement Award from James McGovern of Cavan Town CCÉ.