Sadness at death of Donegal GAA stalwart Jack Hannigan (104)

Donegal GAA is in mourning following the death, aged 104, of Jack Hannigan, a President of the Sean MacCumhaills GAA club.

Jack is perhaps best known to Donegal gaels as the tunnel steward at Sean MacCumhaill Park.

In 2015, just after his 102nd birthday, Jack was honoured by the Ulster GAA Writers Association, who presented him with the John McAviney Award for Lifetime Services to the GAA.

At the 2013 Donegal SFC final, Donegal County Board Chairman Sean Dunnion presented him with a special plaque to mark his 100th birthday.

Jack, who lived at Main Street, Stranorlar, drove until very recently and even had his own personalised parking spot in the car park of St Mary’s Church in Stranorlar.

Jack was a close friend of Sean MacCumhaill and played alongside his brothers for the Twin Towns club. He played football and hurling and turned out for Donegal.

A former railway worker, Jack – who celebrated his 104th birthday in October – was a regular attender at All-Ireland football finals, but it was at his beloved MacCumhaill Park that he was at home.