THE community in Enniskillen and the townland of Arney were deeply shocked last weekend at the news of the sudden death of Murty Cornyn aged 63 years of Derrin Park.
His body was discovered by an RNLI search and rescue team near the Cornagrade shore around 6pm on Friday.
His elder brother John described him as ‘a big quiet fella who was easy to get on with. A perfect gentleman’. He was always good company, good craic and jolly.
Malachy McConnell, of the Belnaleck club Art McMurraghs said Murty’s death was a shock to the whole community which has experienced a ‘real sense of loss’ for our club and in particular his family.
“Our sympathy goes out to them,” said Malachy.
“We looked on Murty as one of our own, even though he lived in the heart of Enniskillen. He was always associated with Belnaleck.”
He added that the Cornyn family were associated with the Belnaleck area. Both Murty and his older brother John both gave a lot of service to the club.
“They played together in the Intermediate Championship winning team in 1974,” he recalled.
“In Paul Corrigan’s history of the club he described Murty as ‘a forward who rarely missed’.
“He had a commanding stature with a distinctive figure,” said the Belnaleck clubman. “People liked to be in his company.”
The Corner Bar, which Murty frequented closed for a period after hearing the news of his death.
Murty was born in Tonylemon, Bellanaleck the son of Murty and Bridget.
He attended Rosdowney Primary School before moving to Enniskillen Technical College.
He became a joiner working for several local firms during his career. He lived in Derrin Park.
A Belnaleck man through and through he played for the club and supported them the rest of his life.
He was a member of the Belnaleck team which won the Intermediate Championship in 1974.
He enjoyed watching games and indeed enjoyed watching a range of sports. In his younger days he also fished.
He is survived by one brother John, Kinawley, and one sister Kay Wilson, Newtownbutler. He was pre-deceased by sister Una Preyer, Ann Gallagher and Mary Burns.
Following Requiem Mass in St Michael’s Church, the burial took place to st Mary’s Cemetery, Arney.
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