MOURNERS at the funeral of former Down minor footballer Niall Greenan have heard how he was "one of nature's gentlemen".
Family and friends of the 69-year-old gathered for Requiem Mass in Annaclone on Thursday following his death in a car crash in Sligo.
Canon Francis Kearney told those gathered at St Mary's Church, Magheral that "first and foremost Niall was very much a family man".
The retired quantity surveyor, who lived on the Malone Road in Belfast but was originally from Annaclone, was killed when his BMW car left the main Sligo to Bundoran road on Easter Monday.
The father-of-two had been returning to his holiday home near Grange, Co Sligo after playing golf in Bundoran.
A keen all-round sportsman, Mr Greenan played Gaelic football in the 1960s and 70s for his village club and was also picked for Down minors.
Canon Kearney told mourners: "Niall couldn’t be an Annaclone man without Gaelic football in his blood.
"He played full back for his local club here and as a student at St Colman’s he rose to fame and played in Croke Park on the Down minor football team.
"Niall was an outside man, and had acquired a great passion for his second sport golf and would spend his day either on the golf course or on the beach."
He described Mr Greenan as "a gentle giant".
"Niall constantly made the remark that one's life span according to the Good Book is three score and 10.
"He was content with this tally as he felt he had done very well in life and enjoyed it very much.
"And prophetical enough he died a few months before his 70th birthday."
