LIFELONG FRIEND PAYS TRIBUTE TO LATEST VICTIM
Lifelong friend pays tribute to latest victim of atrocity
His life was taken away from him on the street where he was born - Ailish Gallagher
BY: MICHELE CANNING
THE LIFELONG friend of the 29th victim of the Omagh atrocity paid a moving tribute to his memory at his funeral this week.
Ailis Gallagher spoke to mourners at St Mary's Church in Killyclogher about her friend whose life was taken away from him on the street where he had been born 61 years earlier.
She recalled how as a young boy he had slipped downstairs into his father's bakery shop only to be taken back up again to his mother. She recalled their friendship through school and as they both entered adulthood and most poignantly she spoke of her last memories of a friend attending Mass in the very Church in which his funeral service was held on Monday. Ailis told the family and friends at the Funeral Mass that Sean was a born businessman.
"He had business in his blood, he had a love of people, charismatic, helpful, a genuine gentleman with a good sense of humour."
She said Sean had loved his town and loved being an Omagh man.
She told how on the death of his father he had assumed the role of a father figure to his brothers, Danny and Noel, and was always there to give support. He had also been a rock of support to his mother.
"Sean will be remembered for being Sean," she said.
"He was a loving father, a devoted husband and loving brother. He was fiercely loyal to his family and his friends and epitomised everything that is good in Christian life.
"He was small in stature but large at heart. His life mirrored peace with himself and God. I always felt the better for meeting him."
Ailis recalled how her last memories of Sean were at Mass in the Church in Killyclogher, where had attended on Sundays and Tuesdays.
"It was where we so often left him, praying there quietly. He was never in a hurry to leave which should be a silent lesson to us all.
"Sean, you will be missed in this devastated town of yours and ours."
Ailis extended her sympathy to the family and told them "Sean is with the angels. He will look after you and comfort you. God bless you, Sean."
Her tribute was met with applause by the mourners at the Mass.
Sean was a son of the late Jack and Kathleen McGrath. His father was a partner in Harvey McGrath's grocery shop in Market Street.
Sean was educated at the CBS in Omagh and on leaving school he worked in the family business for a lumber of years.
He then worked as a representative for Proctor & Gramble before starting up his own business, Krusty Fayre, at Sedan Avenue, which then expanded to take in two other outlets in the town.
The highlight of the business expansion was the supplying of goods by Krusty Fayre to Harrods of London. Two years ago Sean retired from the business but took up consultancy work within the bakery industry in the North-West.
His sister-in-law, Terri Townsend told the "Herald" that on the day of the bomb Sean had gone into town to get a haircut at Leo Doran's barbers but it was closed.
"Minutes before the bomb myself and my husband Billy spoke to Sean and he had been in great form."
Terri paid tribute to "a good friend and a gentleman, who was generous to everyone who knew him and came into contact with him.
"He was such a good family man and friend to everyone."
Sean is survived by his wife Nuala and sons Conor and Gavin. Conor lives in Bangor with his wife Anne. They have a two year old daughter, Sarah.
Tragically, Sean never got to know his second grandchild, Polly Kaitlin, who was born two weeks ago as her grandfather fought for his life in the Royal Victoria Hospital's intensive care unit.
Polly is the daughter of Gavin and his wife Emma, who live in London.
Sean is also survived by his daughters Noleen, a teacher in Portstewart and Cara, an aerobics teacher in the Bangor/Newtownards area.
On Saturday as the news came that Sean McGrath , had died, Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, spoke of her sadness.
"My heart goes out to the family and relatives of Mr McGrath as they try to come to terms with their loss.
"For the brave people of Omagh who have had to face so much trauma in the past weeks this will be a sad reminder of their own individual grief."
Dr Mowlam said she earnestly hoped that the injured will have as speedy a recovery as possible and will soon be able to go about the task of rebuilding their lives.
"The Omagh tragedy has touched the hearts of people all over the world. The visit by President Clinton and the Prime Minister is testimony to how much our friends want to rally round and help us achieve the bright future that this and succeeding generations deserve," said Dr Mowlam.
His life was taken away from him on the street where he was born - Ailish Gallagher
BY: MICHELE CANNING
THE LIFELONG friend of the 29th victim of the Omagh atrocity paid a moving tribute to his memory at his funeral this week.
Ailis Gallagher spoke to mourners at St Mary's Church in Killyclogher about her friend whose life was taken away from him on the street where he had been born 61 years earlier.
She recalled how as a young boy he had slipped downstairs into his father's bakery shop only to be taken back up again to his mother. She recalled their friendship through school and as they both entered adulthood and most poignantly she spoke of her last memories of a friend attending Mass in the very Church in which his funeral service was held on Monday. Ailis told the family and friends at the Funeral Mass that Sean was a born businessman.
"He had business in his blood, he had a love of people, charismatic, helpful, a genuine gentleman with a good sense of humour."
She said Sean had loved his town and loved being an Omagh man.
She told how on the death of his father he had assumed the role of a father figure to his brothers, Danny and Noel, and was always there to give support. He had also been a rock of support to his mother.
"Sean will be remembered for being Sean," she said.
"He was a loving father, a devoted husband and loving brother. He was fiercely loyal to his family and his friends and epitomised everything that is good in Christian life.
"He was small in stature but large at heart. His life mirrored peace with himself and God. I always felt the better for meeting him."
Ailis recalled how her last memories of Sean were at Mass in the Church in Killyclogher, where had attended on Sundays and Tuesdays.
"It was where we so often left him, praying there quietly. He was never in a hurry to leave which should be a silent lesson to us all.
"Sean, you will be missed in this devastated town of yours and ours."
Ailis extended her sympathy to the family and told them "Sean is with the angels. He will look after you and comfort you. God bless you, Sean."
Her tribute was met with applause by the mourners at the Mass.
Sean was a son of the late Jack and Kathleen McGrath. His father was a partner in Harvey McGrath's grocery shop in Market Street.
Sean was educated at the CBS in Omagh and on leaving school he worked in the family business for a lumber of years.
He then worked as a representative for Proctor & Gramble before starting up his own business, Krusty Fayre, at Sedan Avenue, which then expanded to take in two other outlets in the town.
The highlight of the business expansion was the supplying of goods by Krusty Fayre to Harrods of London. Two years ago Sean retired from the business but took up consultancy work within the bakery industry in the North-West.
His sister-in-law, Terri Townsend told the "Herald" that on the day of the bomb Sean had gone into town to get a haircut at Leo Doran's barbers but it was closed.
"Minutes before the bomb myself and my husband Billy spoke to Sean and he had been in great form."
Terri paid tribute to "a good friend and a gentleman, who was generous to everyone who knew him and came into contact with him.
"He was such a good family man and friend to everyone."
Sean is survived by his wife Nuala and sons Conor and Gavin. Conor lives in Bangor with his wife Anne. They have a two year old daughter, Sarah.
Tragically, Sean never got to know his second grandchild, Polly Kaitlin, who was born two weeks ago as her grandfather fought for his life in the Royal Victoria Hospital's intensive care unit.
Polly is the daughter of Gavin and his wife Emma, who live in London.
Sean is also survived by his daughters Noleen, a teacher in Portstewart and Cara, an aerobics teacher in the Bangor/Newtownards area.
On Saturday as the news came that Sean McGrath , had died, Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, spoke of her sadness.
"My heart goes out to the family and relatives of Mr McGrath as they try to come to terms with their loss.
"For the brave people of Omagh who have had to face so much trauma in the past weeks this will be a sad reminder of their own individual grief."
Dr Mowlam said she earnestly hoped that the injured will have as speedy a recovery as possible and will soon be able to go about the task of rebuilding their lives.
"The Omagh tragedy has touched the hearts of people all over the world. The visit by President Clinton and the Prime Minister is testimony to how much our friends want to rally round and help us achieve the bright future that this and succeeding generations deserve," said Dr Mowlam.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0362
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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