The passing of Danny Frank Monaghan brought widespread sadness to the area. Danny was much loved and highly respected in the community. He always had time for people and loved to chat with neighbours, relations and friends. Over many years Danny played a major role in the community of Lackagh and Turloughmore. A keen hurler in his youth, he was one of the top players in the Knockdoe hurling team of the 40s and 50s and when the club amalgamation came in 1956 Tommy Henihan and Danny Monaghan were the only Knockdoe players invited to play with the Turloughmore team and were rewarded by winning Galway Senior Hurling Championship medals in 1956, the first of eight titles that the club have won.
Danny worked on the Corrib Drainage Scheme in the 50s when much work was carried out on the River Clare and over the years shared many stories about his time by the river banks. Later he moved to England but returned home and married Ann McTighe and they set up home in Lackaghmore. Danny worked for many years as a maintenance person in St. Mary’s College in Galway and was very well respected for his attention to detail.
When it came to group water schemes, Danny was a leader. He was in charge of the Lackagh group water scheme for many years and looked after the collection of money and the ongoing, necessary repair work. Before schemes were taken over by the local authority, Danny was often out late at night or early in the morning trying to fix a water problem so that no house would ever be too long without water. He also took great pride in the old water pump across the road from his home and looked after the restoration and upkeep of the Lackaghmore pump.
Danny was a leading member of the Turloughmore Development Committee that brought the development of new GAA ground at Lackagh and the provision of Turloughmore Social Centre for Turloughmore Hurling Club and also played a leading role in the development of Lackagh Museum and Heritage Centre. Danny was an avid reader and Ireland’s Own became a favourite and the development of Lackagh Museum became a new lease of life for Danny who loved the chats around the fire after meetings to which Danny would regularly come with teasers that led to a weekly competition called Danny’s Corner.
While Danny was much loved within the community, he was a passionate family person and treasured his wife Ann and their four daughters. It was fitting that Danny lived long enough to welcome his first grandchild into the house just three weeks before he passed away unexpectedly. He has left a legacy of wonderful memories behind him and will be fondly remembered.
The remains of Danny Monaghan were removed from Lackagh Mortuary to the Church of Our Lady of Knock, Lackagh. Following his funeral Mass celebrated by Fr. Des Walsh, PP Lackagh, burial took place in Lackagh Cemetery.
Danny is survived his his wife Anne, daughters Annette, Martina, Olivia and Karen, son-in-law Ronan, granddaughter Lilly Anne, brothers Paddy, Joe and Billy, sisters Bridie, Evelyn, Fionnuala and Marcella, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
