THE Enniskillen community has been left heartbroken following the sudden death of Noel McAuley who was a much-loved and well-known character around the town.
Formerly of Glencrush in Lifford, but residing at St Ann’s Terrace in Sligo, Mr McAuley passed away suddenly on Tuesday.
For almost 20 years, Mr McAuley made the regular commute from his home in Sligo to the Diamond in Enniskillen to sell copies of ‘Ireland’s Big Issue’ magazine.
Launched in 1991, ‘The Big Issue’ is sold throughout Ireland and the UK by a large number of people, many of whom are homeless, with the proceeds raised helping the socially excluded re-integrate into society.
Mr McAuley was born in Lifford in Donegal in 1946 and he was the third youngest of 11 children, where he grew up on a farm in the rural countryside.
Aged just five years old, Mr McAuley lost his sight. He relocated to Belfast where he attended a school for visually-impaired people, until he was 16. Mr McAuley worked in a number of different occupations in Cork, Donegal and Sligo, before applying for a job at the switch-board at ‘Ireland’s Big Issue’ office in Sligo.
While waiting for his interview for the job, Mr McAuley sold the magazine on the streets in various counties, including Enniskillen. He continued to do so until his death.
Mr McAuley also had a passion and keen interest in sport. He represented Ireland in the Special Olympics, finishing in second place in the 800 metres and winning a bronze medal in the long jump.
Following his funeral service at St Lugadius Clonleigh Church of Ireland on Saturday, he was interred in the adjoining cemetery.
To read more on this story see this week’s Fermanagh Herald. Can’t get to the shop to collect your copy? No problem! You can download a copy straight to your device by following this link… Subscribe to current edition
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere