:: Dungannon Rugby Club :: by stagetimes.com

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Canon Desmond McCreery

June 2008 was a sad month for Dungannon Rugby Club. We lost a past President and valued friend Canon Desmond McCreery. The Canon as he was known was President in 2004-2005. He took more than a passing interest in the well being of the players and members and with the late Monsignor Denis Faul was our Club Chaplain for many years. Desmond was also our first Child Protection Officer. He carried out all his club duties very conscientiously and very quietly.
Born in Ballygawley, he was an old boy of the Royal School and a life long Dungannon supporter. The Canon’s love of Dungannon Rugby Club took on a new phase when the All Ireland League started in the 1990s. On long trips to Dublin, Limerick and Galway he enjoyed the company of his fellow supporters. In June 2005 at the end of his presidential year the Club went on tour to Canada with Desmond at the head. One Sunday he had somehow got a job of visiting preacher at a local church. Not sure of what level of support he would receive across the Atlantic he gathered some volunteers and set out for church at Mississauga near Toronto. Whilst these men would never be described as the Mississauga disciples Desmond believed that they were better men for their visit. Desmond was frequently called on to say the grace before dinner at a Saturday game; he graces were always sincere and never dull and gave the visitors a taste of what they were up against.
Everyone at the Club extends their deepest sympathy to his wife Frances, their son Garrath and daughter Janet and their families and to Desmond’s brother Adrian.
We shall miss him.

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