Tribute to former south Mayo GAA star on his passing
Seamus Langan, who has died in Ennis, Co. Clare, was a distinguished footballer for Ballinrobe GAA Club and Ballinrobe CBS in the 1950s.
In a tribute, John Sweeney, chairperson, Ballinrobe GAA Club, stated: "Seamus was a member of the club team that won the 1958 Mayo Junior Football Championship title.
"That year, he played in goal in the South Mayo final win over Kilmaine and in the county semi-final triumph over Achill.
"The county final versus Charlestown proved to be quite the saga – the first meeting was abandoned due to the sudden death of a Charlestown player’s father on the sideline; the second clash was a draw; and Ballinrobe finally won the third meeting in the month of December.
"Seamus played in the first two finals, but injury ruled him out of the decisive third game. That injury was to later put an end to his days as a footballer, but he retained a strong interest in the fortunes of our club and Mayo teams.
"A native of The Farm, Ballinrobe, Seamus won Colleran and Flanagan Cup titles with Ballinrobe CBS in the mid-1950s.
"In 1958, he was full back on the CBS team that had the distinction of reaching the Connacht Colleges Senior A final, only to lose to famed nursery St Jarlath’s College, Tuam. He starred in goal and outfield during his playing career.
"Members of the Langan family have been involved in the club over multiple generations, and his niece Irene, and her son Eoin, are prominent members of the club currently.
"Seamus’s father John played on the first club team to win the Mayo Junior Championship title in 1934.
"John was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 1998. Bryan Hennelly, a nephew of Seamus’s wife Maureen (nee Hennelly, Partry), is also an underage coach in our club.
“Seamus was a reliable player, very solid. He played a lot of football in goal, and you could depend on him.
"We remained friends long after he moved away from Ballinrobe – ironically, both of us got married on the same day in 1966. Seamus’s brother Dick played full-back on the first club team to win the O’Mara Cup – the 1955 final, which was actually played in 1956."
"The Langan association with our club is very strong going back to the 1920s, at least,” said club historian and Seamus’s former playing colleague, Michael Coyne.
Predeceased by his parents John and Mary, brothers Dick, Paddy and Martin, Seamus is sadly missed by his loving wife Maureen, daughter Anne, sons John, Patrick and James, son-in-law Dermot Ryan, daughters-in-law Maria, Eilish and Fiona, grandchildren Cian, Donnacha, Elliott, Fionn, Kelvin, Rachel, Caoimhin, Daniel, Amiee, Mollie, Hazel and Darragh, great grandson Kai, brother Seán, sisters Kathleen and Mary, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours, colleagues and a wide circle of friends.
A former member of An Garda Síochána, he spent much of his working life attached to the Immigration Department at Shannon Airport.
His funeral ceremonies took place in Ennis over the weekend.
Ballinrobe GAA and LGFA Club has extended its deepest sympathy to Seamus’s family at this sad time.