Cyril Haran

Cyril Haran was born in February 1931.[2] He had three sisters: Grace Liddy (who predeceased him), Margo (based in Sligo at her brother's death) and Sr Vickey Haran (California. He played Gaelic football for Grange as a youth during the 1940s and would go on to become club president.[1][2][3][4]

Fr. Haran spent 58 years as a priest.[2] having been ordained in 1956. His first appointment was as curate in Roscommon and Sooey.[1] He spent most of his priestly life as a teacher, first teaching English at Summerhill College in Sligo (where he was known as "Cyrilly" or "Dosser"),[5] as well as training the school's soccer and Gaelic football teams.[2][1] He also taught at St Muredach's College in Ballina, County Mayo, and spent time teaching at the University of San Diego in 1968.[1]

In 1988, he was posted to Grange as CC and became parish priest of Ahamlish and Inishmurray in 1997. His retirement came in 2003.[2] He received a celebration Mass and presentation.[6] He spent it at Streedagh until he died from a short illness at the North West Hospice in June 2014 at the age of 83.[3][1][7] His funeral was held at Church of Mary Immaculate, Grange, and he was buried afterwards in Sligo Cemetery.[1]

He managed St Mary's to their first Sligo Senior Football Championship title; in 1977, they were the first Sligo club to win a Connacht Senior Club Football Championship title. In 1978, he managed St Mary's to a Sligo Football Championship semi-final against Grange, won by Grange in a replay.[2]

He managed the Sligo county team between 1983 and 1985.[2] Other teams he managed were Roscommon Gaels and St Michael's. He was noted for telling his teams: "Lads, winning isn't everything", then to pause and follow through with "It's the only thing".[2] His enjoyments included literature and fishing.[1]