Tributes paid to former Tourlestrane footballer
THE death occurred last week of former Tourlestrane and Sligo footballer, Dan Scannell, aged 88.
Dan was part of the Tourlestrane team of 1956, the first year the club won the Sligo Senior Championship.
Dan played at right halfback. Tourlestrane had won the Junior County title in 1954 and were the beaten senior finalists the following year.
In the 196 final, Tourlestrane faced near neighbours Tubbercurry, who were going for their third title in a row, but were well beaten on the day.
Dan, a native of Rathmore in Co Kerry, was also part of the Sligo county team.
He featured for them in the 1955 League and was on the championship side defeated by the great Galway team of Sean Purcell and co in 1956.
Dan spent all his working life in the Forest and Wild Services, which required him to move around the country.
He served with the Forest Service until 1972 when he transferred to the Wildlife Service. Dan worked in many counties including Sligo, Mayo, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Tipperary, Limerick, Waterford, Kerry and Cork. When he left Sligo in 1956, he was transferred to Kenmare, where he met his wife Noreen, (nee Brosnan) from Kenmare.
Dan also played junior football for Kerry and club football with Kenmare and Rathmore.
He later moved to Carrigtwohill in Cork, where he was heavily involved with the local GAA club for many years.
Dan rejoined his fellow 1956 Tourlestrane teammates for a special celebration reunion in 2006 to mark 50 years since their memorable Senior Championship win.
They were presented with a plaque to commemorate their inaugural Senior title for the club, who have gone on to win 11 more and have been runners up on six occasions. Managed by the duo of Eamonn O’Hara and Gerry McGowan, Tourlestrane are the reigning champions and are into the quarter final stages.
Dan died in Cork University Hospital on September 9th and is survived by his wife, Noreen, son Donal and daughter Lisa, grandchildren Kate, Ellen, Eva, Liam and Emily, extended family, neighbours and friends. His Requiem Mass took place in St Mary’s Church, Carrigtwohill and he was laid to rest in St Mary’s Cemetery.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.