The late Martin Dillon
THE death took place, peacefully, on Saturday last in the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen of Martin Dillon (48), a member of a well-known local business family.
Mr Dillon lived with his wife, Paula (nee Adams), their daughter, Dearbhla,a student at Mount Lourdes Grammar School and their sons, Sean and Luke, both students at St Michael’s College, at Drumcose Road, Enniskillen.
A dedicated husband and father, he was the son of Martin and Ethna and a brother of Matt, Enda, Ethna and Eimear. His father, now retired, was a well-known figure in the motor trade in town.
Martin Junior eventually followed the business trail. By the time he married Paula, in September, 1996, he had acquired the Lough Melvin Service Station in Bundoran.
Through sheer hard work – commuting from his home to Bundoran seven days a week – he built up the complex into one of the most thriving of its kind. He was highly respected locally.
Some 18 years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer but he then enjoyed 15 years of remission which allowed him to carry on with his business interests. Sadly, cancer returned some two and half years ago but, such was his cheery attitude to it (when asked how was was doing, he would reply, ‘Great. Couldn’t be better’), that even his close friends were unaware of how ill he was.
According to his wife, ‘he was the most outgoing, friendly and personable man you could ever meet. He was determined and dogged and never gave up on anything’.
Within the family circle, he was the uncle closest to his nephews, his nieces and godsons and, to Dearbhla, Sean and Luke, he was the one who made sure he knew how their day went at a time when he was unable to get out and about much.
He had a number of abiding interests, Liverpool FC, running and (before that) tennis. He was a member of Enniskillen Running Club and helped fellow members found the Enniskillen Spooktacular 5k event.
This year’s takes place tonight , Friday, 30th October and, fittingly, Mr Dillon’s son, Sean is due to present the Martin Dillon Memorial Trophy in his father’s memory. Family members will be taking part in the race. He was previously an active member of Enniskillen Tennis Club.
The funeral Mass was celebrated yesterday, Tuesday in St Michael’s Church, with burial at Cross Cemetery.
Mr Dillon is further survived by his father-in-law, John Adams and was pre-deceased by his mother-in-law, Celia.
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