Our club has been rocked to its core with the tragic passing of our senior footballer, John Rafferty. John’s special characteristics and traits shone from an early age. These qualities marked him out as a leader. Combined with his natural skill, work-rate, effort and attitude, our club possessed an awesome talent. Captaining our minor championship winning team of 2019 was a highlight and the maturity of the speech personified the leadership qualities. These qualities did not go unnoticed and John represented Tyrone at minor and U20 level and was fast-tracked into our senior team. As has been said in the last few days, John was a “manager’s dream” – his performances always typified by their pure honesty. Watching the Rafferty family over these past few days, it is not hard to see where John acquired these qualities.
Although rocked to our core, our club is built on strong foundations. We have rallied to support the Rafferty family and hope that it is some comfort. We thank all our members for their tireless work over the course of the wake and funeral. This has been a massive collective club effort – one of our toughest ever. Maith sibh. This Association which we are so lucky to belong to, is entwined and entangled in in the entire fabric of our community. Our community will continue to offer to wrap a collective arm of support around the Rafferty family and John’s friends and teammates.
We are also immeasurably indebted to the entire GAA community throughout Tyrone and beyond, who contacted our club with messages of support and who turned out at the wake and funeral to show their support to the Rafferty family. In our Association, we are fierce opposing competitors on the field – tight brothers and sisters off it.
The life of John Rafferty and the strength and dignity of the Rafferty family is an inspiration – Our Inspiration. Maireann an chraobh ar an bhfál ach ní mhaireann an lámh do chuir – The branch lives on the hedge but not the hand that planted it.
We also offer sincere sympathy at this time to the McGowan family on the passing of John McGowan (Derry).
