The late Seamus McLoughlin fondly remembered
Moate All Whites GAA club was in celebratory mode last weekend after their victory over Tang in the Westmeath intermediate football final.
But there was also a poignant aspect to the success with long-serving Moate clubman Seamus McLoughlin (pictured above) passing away just a day before the final.
Seamus was well known as a passionate Westmeath supporter and he often transported young players based around the country to training sessions with county squads. He was also a regular steward at TEG Cusack Park until his health declined in recent years.
Paying tribute to Seamus, Westmeath GAA offered "heartfelt condolences and support" to his wife Anita, daughters Ciara and Úna, and the rest of the family.
"It was with great sadness that the Westmeath GAA community learned of the passing of Seamus McLoughlin," said a county board statement.
"Seamus had been an ever present figure in TEG Cusack Park for decades, where he was a regular on stewarding duties. Seamus was not only a regular in Cusack Park but at many other venues across the country where he followed Westmeath the length and breadth of Ireland, supporting our teams and also transporting our players. His presence will be sorely missed by us all."
Seamus was part of the Ballymore squad which reached the Westmeath SFC final in 1965, before transferring to the Moate club. He served as Chairman of Moate All Whites for nine years and was a long-serving delegate to the Westmeath County Board.
He was a selector with Moate All Whites when the club last won the Flanagan Cup in 1997, also filling this role with the Westmeath senior team.
A tribute posted online by Moate All Whites stated: "He will be remembered in equal measure for the many spontaneous remarks he would have thrown out over the years, and for every line delivered in witty jest, there would be another vinegar laced one to follow! His failing health in recent months was known to all, but he was well enough to watch our semi-final victory over Milltownpass."
Moate All Whites player Gavin Murray also remembered Seamus fondly and he felt Moate’s victory in the intermediate final was a fitting tribute. Indeed, members of the Moate team brought the Peter Geraghty Cup to the McLoughlin household last weekend.
“Seamus was a true Moate and Westmeath Gael and was hugely involved in many of Moate’s successes throughout the years. I know Anita, his wife, and Ciara and Úna, his daughters, were very, very proud when we brought the cup back to the house on Saturday night. He was heavily involved with the club and always looked out for the players and it was fitting way to send him off,” Murray told the Westmeath Independent.
A native of Ballymore, Seamus lived on the Lake Road in Moate. Known to many as 'The Red', Seamus ran a taxi business in Moate for many years.
Anybody who ever travelled to matches with Seamus knew the importance of being on time! And when it came to discussing football matches or other matters, Seamus was never afraid to speak his mind.
Seamus died peacefully on September 25 in the tender loving care of the staff of South Westmeath Hospice, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Anita, Seamus was loving father of Ciara (Shanley) and Úna (Forde), and much adored grandad of Niamh, Caoimhe, Fiachra, Tess and Edith.
He is sadly missed by his wife and daughters, brothers Andy, Michael (Dublin) and Joe, sisters Maureen Tigani (USA) and Margaret Sheridan (Mount Nugent), sons-in-law Keith and Michael, grandchildren, sisters-in-law Helen and Mary, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
In keeping with government guidelines a private Funeral Mass for family members took place last Sunday in St Patrick’s Church, Moate, with burial afterwards in Donegan Cemetery. May Seamus rest in peace.