A family man at the heart of his Cornafean community

Seamus O’Reilly was deeply involved in farming groups and the local GAA club

There was shock in the Cornafean community and far beyond at the sudden passing of Séamus O’Reilly, Cloncose which occurred recently at his residence.

Seamus was an integral part of life around Cornafean for all of his 85 years.

He was born in the heart of Cornafean, a stone’s throw from Crossdoney, smack in the middle of County Cavan, in a place called Cloncose - The Hollowed Meadow. He spent his entire life farming the family land in Cornafean, working alongside his family and neighbours, and playing a vital role in the local community.

Over the years, Seamus became the heart and soul of his beloved place. He loved Cornafean where he knew everyone and where he was an authority on all local placenames and he had a name for every hedge and every field and every stone. Seamus attended Coronea National School which he loved, though perhaps he loved even more the football battles in the old schoolyard with his friends.

Life, however, had its own curriculum for Seamus. At the tender age of 12, family circumstances thrust him into managing the family farm. It was a big ask for any young lad, but Seamus didn’t flinch. He took it on fiercely.

Dairy farming in Cavan is a skill both acquired and inherited. Seamus embraced it with the kind of energy only the young possess - too driven to care, and too young to know better.

In 1959, that same energy earned him the title of Young Farmer of the Year, a win that catapulted him even further into the world of dairy farming and farming organisations. More than anything, Seamus was a man of the soil, and the influence of the land on him was unmistakable - evident in his gait and demeanour. He loved everything about the drumlin fields of Cornafean: the sound of a mowing machine cutting the meadow in Flemings field in June, the sight of cows lazily coming in to be milked at dusk, the call of the corncrakes at Drumroe, and the thud of milk churns being loaded onto the floor of Coronea creamery. These sights and sounds stayed with him all his life.

Quiet confidence

Seamus began farming in the early ‘50s, when farming was at a low ebb but none of that ever bothered him. He was always comfortable in his own skin and in what he was doing. In fact, his quiet confidence led him to join various committees and speak up for his own tribe. Over time, he became woven into the very fabric of Cornafean, throwing himself into Macra na Feirme, Cornafean Drama Group and the IFA with equal vigour, later dedicating himself to a lifetime of service in the IFA, the Friesian Breeders Club, the Farm Relief Service, the Cornafean Active Age Group, The Cornafean indoor bowling club and the local Gartylough water scheme, and even serving on the board of the Irish Farm Accounts Co-Operative (IFAC). He was involved in much, and he always had an opinion - especially when it came to farming, politics and Cavan football.

GAA

He was GAA to the core - a man who lived and breathed the games, never missing a chance to drop Cornafean into conversation.

His passing evoked many memories among old teammates and friends of his great contribution to his community and Cornafean GAA. He made his championship debut in August 1960 when he lined out at corner forward in the first round of the Cavan senior championship. It was a memorable debut for Séamus who scored two goals in Cornafean’s narrow victory over Cavan Gaels.

Throughout the 1960s he was one of Cornafean’s best known players. He usually lined out in the full forward line, either on the square or at corner forward. In the later years of the decade, because of a recurring knee injury, he played in goals, a position he made his own. He was one of a group of players who backboned the Cornafean senior team throughout the decade - a team that was unlucky not to have won a county championship or two. He gave everything to the red jersey, exhorted his teammates to do likewise and he never shied away from a challenge on the field however daunting.

Séamus also fulfilled the role of club secretary in the mid-1960s and in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s he represented the club at Co Board meetings. He was forthright in his views and he represented his club passionately whenever needed. He was also involved in the promotion of hurling in Cornafean during the 1960s and along with Tom MacSeain he helped his brother, Fr Oliver in organising and training underage Cornafean hurling teams. These teams won a number of county underage titles which brought great joy to the young lads involved.

Scór

He was also involved in Scór. He took part in the inaugural Cavan Scór competition in 1972 which was held in Kilnacrott. He participated in an item called Motion Speaking which was a popular discipline in Scór in the early years. He was a great supporter of Scór ever since and he seldom missed a night at Scór na nÓg or Scór Sinsir when Cornafean was involved.

In later years he continued to attend all Cornafean club matches and he was a fervent supporter of the different Cavan teams and a regular in Breffni Park. His last visit to the stadium took place recently when he and his wife Dympna, with their friends and neighbours, enjoyed the Cavan GAA Musuem tour prior to the Cornafean’s championship victory over Bailieborough.

Atmosphere

A proud, lifelong member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association Seamus loved going to traditional Irish pubs, mainly for the atmosphere, music, and dancing. He was a big fan of Irish folk tunes and a good old-time waltz. Seamus was also an avid whist player. In recent years, he lived for the weekly whist drive in places like Cornafean and Mullahoran back in the day and in recent times Corlough, Killeshandra, Templeport and Newtowngore. He travelled with Brian McGlade in latter years to the whists where dealing cards and exchanging banter over cups of tea made these friendly competitions the highlight of his week.

Family man

Above all, Seamus was a family man. Nothing made him happier than being at home with Dympna, their family, and especially his ten grandchildren.

Seamus died suddenly, but peacefully, with his family by his side in his home in Cloncose. He is predeceased by his loving daughter Brenda and his granddaughter Kiera Aoife, sister Angela, parents John P and Rose. He will be greatly missed by his devoted wife and best friend Dympna, his loving family Eamon (Deirdre), Sean (Toni), Kieran (Louise), Aoife (Stuart) and Deirbhile (Sean), his sister Rosemary, his brothers Sean, Frank, Fr. Oliver and PJ, his 10 adored grandchildren, brother in law, sisters in law, newphews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated at The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Coronea, by his brother, Fr Oliver O’Reilly, assisted by Fr Andrew Tully, Fr Tom McKiernan, Fr Eamon Lynch and retired Bishop Leo. He was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery. After the service, the crowd lingered in the morning sunshine. Small groups stood, sharing stories about the Seamus O’Reilly they knew and loved.

Truly, ní bheidh a leithéid ann aris. There will never be another like him. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.