There was widespread shock and sadness in the local community of Carrigart at the news of the death of John Sweeney.
He passed away while out playing his beloved game of golf on the greens at Portsalon.
Aged 66 he was youngest of a family of seven. John was the postmaster in Carrigart for over 30 years, a job he carried out with the utmost professionalism and where the customer always came first.
He retired from the Post Office business in 2003. John had just returned home last week after spending time with his son Mark in Dubai.
A true gentleman his sad passing will not only be a huge loss to his family first and foremost but also to the wider community in Carrigart and to his huge circle of friends from golf and soccer. John was a very good golfer playing off a low handicap for many years. He had been a member at the Rosapenna G.C. and in more recent years played in Portsalon.
John maintained a keen interest in physical fitness and used the most modern methods in strength and conditioning to play golf at a high standard. And to stay at that level he used the classes run by the renowned golf fitness specialist Tommy Gallagher in Letterkenny where his endearing personality and good humour will also be sadly missed.
John Sweeney was also an outstanding soccer player and was one of the star men of the famous Fanad Utd three-in-a-row Donegal Junior League winning team of the 1970s. The Carrigart man’s talent was spotted by the legendary Fr. Michael Sweeney who signed him in 1971 after the Junior League was formed. Also joining him on that team was fellow Carrigart man Seamus Vaughan and James Duffy from Cranford.
After Lifford Celtic won the inaugural league title in the 1971/72 season it was Fanad who then dominated, winning the next three league championships. A stylish right winger John Sweeney played a huge part in that triple triumph which was completed in May 1975 at Leckview Park when Fanad defeated Lifford 3-1 in a play-off for the league title after both teams had ended up on the same number of points.
There was a special bond among the members of that highly successful squad that also included Sean McAteer, James Duffy, Sean Sweeney, John Kerr, John Friel, Eamonn McConigley, James Doherty (deceased), Tommy Patton, Brian McIvor, Aidan Kelly (deceased), Seamus Vaughan and Fr. Kieran McAteer.
John also won numerous Summer Cup titles under Fr. Mick before moving to play with Cranford Utd and Glenree Utd in latter stages of his career. He was especially delighted to be present in the Silver Tassie Hotel at the end of September on the occasion of the special night to honour the contribution that Fr. Michael Sweeney had made to soccer over four decades.
It was also a rare opportunity for members of the successful Fanad Utd side of that era to meet socially again. But little did anyone think that just six months later some of those same players are now mourning the sudden loss of a friend and former teammate.
The remains of the late Mr Sweeney were removed from the Eternal Light Chapel of Rest, Letterkenny on Wednesday afternoon to his late residence Roy View, Carrigart. Funeral is from there on this Friday morning going to the Church of St John the Baptist for Requiem Mass at 11am followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
John is survived by his wife Mary Teresa (nee Wilhare, Devlinreagh); daughter Paula (Cork); sons Noel (Washington, USA), Mark (Dubai) and John (Letterkenny). He is also survived by grandchildren and by his sisters Grainne (London), Jean Crossan (Woodlands, Letterkenny) and Antoinette Ruth (Thurles, Co. Tipperary). John was predeceased by his sisters Deirdre and brothers Eddie and Conal. Deepest sympathies are extended to the family, relatives and friends of the deceased.
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