Large crowds are expected in Ballaghaderreen today as mourners gather to bid a fond farewell to one of the county’s best-known personalities.
Tributes have continued to pour in following the untimely passing – after a short illness – of popular press photographer Michael (Mick) McCormack.
Mr. McCormack, of Main Street, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, died on Sunday last at University Hospital, Castlebar, with his family by his side.
A proud Ballaghaderreen man and a renowned Roscommon GAA supporter, the late Mick McCormack was widely known and immensely popular through his work as a freelance photographer over many years. In latter years he was the main freelance photographer for the Roscommon People, where we are numbed by the untimely passing of our friend and gifted work colleague.
Numerous GAA clubs locally have led tributes following the shock passing of Mick, who was aged just 59. Roscommon GAA County Board has also paid tribute, as have many other community organisations.
Mick’s work appeared in numerous publications over the years, including the national press, his phenomenal output documenting the social and sporting trajectory of a county and its people.
In latter years Mr. McCormack was mostly associated with the Roscommon People, whose Managing Editor, Paul Healy, spoke of the shock and grief at the loss of a much-loved colleague.
Management and staff of the Roscommon Herald have also paid warm tributes this week to their former colleague and friend.
Mr. Healy said: “On behalf of everyone at the Roscommon People newspaper (past and present) we extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Mick McCormack following his sad passing on Sunday.
“We are all devastated at the sudden loss of our work colleague and friend. It is surely fair to say that Mick was one of the most recognisable faces in County Roscommon (and across GAA venues nationwide too). In his work as a photographer, Mick was an ‘ever-present’ at GAA games most weekends over the past 30-odd years. His enthusiasm on these occasions was without equal, Mick’s natural warmth, friendliness and generosity of spirit meaning he went ‘the extra mile’ in his engagement with players, mentors and supporters.
“The people of Ballaghaderreen and the people of County Roscommon have lost a unique personality. Mick was kind-hearted, generous, fun-loving and a raconteur without equal. We will miss him terribly and remember him with a smile”.
The late Mick McCormack is mourned by his mother Phyllis (Phyll), brother John, sister Maria Walsh (Renmore, Galway), nephew Rory, nieces Laura, Aoife, Michelle, Ciara, Niamh and Dearbhla, grandnephews and nieces Jack, Eva, Alison, Kate, Conor, Caden, Luke, Léana, Thea, Elliot and Evan, brother-in-law Gabriel, sister-in-law Patricia, cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Mick will repose in The Sharkey Funeral Home, Ballaghaderreen today (Tuesday) from 5 pm until 7.30 pm. Mick will be removed from the funeral home on Wednesday at 11.30am to St. Nathy’s Cathedral, Ballaghaderreen (via New Street and Main Street) arriving for Mass of the Resurrection at 12noon, followed by interment in Kilcolman Cemetery.
