John James Treacy – born November 23rd 1936, died May 13th 2016
John James Treacy, who has died in his 80th year, made major contributions to education, the GAA and the community in his native Fermanagh. He had an ability to motivate both young people and adults.
He served as head teacher in first St Mary’s High School, Brollagh, Co Fermanagh, then St Comhghall’s High School, Lisnaskea. To his pupils he was a quiet and fair man, who did not engage in corporal punishment common during much of his teaching career. Building up St Mary’s was a particular achievement, as the school is over 20 miles west of Enniskillen, close to the Border with Co Donegal, and serves a scattered rural community.
He served the GAA for a lifetime. As a player, he was a member of the Fermanagh team which won the All Ireland junior championship in 1959. In 1970 and 1971 he managed Fermanagh Under-21 teams that reached back to back All-Ireland finals. This was an extraordinary achievement with a county that has always had one of the smallest population bases in the country. In 1982 he coached the Fermanagh senior team that reached the Ulster final for the first time in 37 years. He was a selector of the team that won the All-Ireland B Championship in 1996.
He had an ability to combine different roles. At 24 he was a player when he trained his home club, Devenish, to the Fermanagh county title.
His community and his faith held great importance to him. He was a director of the Westville Family Resource Centre in Enniskillen. He was active in his parish council, and with Accord, the Catholic marriage guidance service.
John James Treacy was born in November 1936 near Garrison, Co Fermanagh, eldest of 10 children to Tommy Treacy, a farmer, and his wife Rita (née McGrath). He was educated at the primary school in Garrison: followed by secondary schooling at St Colman’s College, Newry, where he was head boy: then third level at St Joseph’s Teacher Training College in Belfast. After qualifying as a teacher, he taught in Omagh and Enniskillen before moving to Brollagh and, finally, Lisnaskea.
He is survived by his wife, Fanchea, his sons Conal, Ciaran, Brian and Eoin, five brothers and three sisters. He was predeceased by his daughter Aveen and sister Bridie.