A FINTONA man has been remembered for his love of sport and his well-known habit of collecting golf balls.
Christopher (Christy) Goodman died peacefully at Altnagelvin Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was 58.
Celebrant of the funeral Mass at St Lawrence’s Church, Fintona, Fr Seán Mulligan reflected on Christy’s life and his connection to the local community.
“There wasn’t a street in Fintona that Christy had not lived in at some stage in his life. There was a fair bit of moving between houses over the years,” he said.
Fr Mulligan recalled how, when in good health, Christy enjoyed painting and decorating and spent summers picking potatoes in Nixon’s field on the Derrybard Road.
“He loved all sports and would watch all sports on TV, no matter what it was. It could have been a hundred eejits chasing a wheel of cheese down a steep hill in Gloucestershire or the gentleman’s sport of golf – it wouldn’t have mattered to Christy,” he said.
Fondness
The priest also spoke about Christy’s fondness for collecting golf balls that had strayed from the course.
“Christy was famous for collecting the golf balls that had veered off course into the rough or the river which runs through the course, and then he’d sell them for a few pound. This earned him the affectionate nickname ‘Golf Ball’ around the town.
“In essence, he lived a simple life and enjoyed the simple things it offered,” Fr Mulligan added.
Following the funeral, Christy was laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard at St Lawrence’s Church.
Loving partner
He was the loving partner of Joanne and a treasured father of Charlene (Thomas), Darren (Kelly), Christine Fisher (Michael) and Holly.
He was also a devoted grandfather to his eight grandchildren and a cherished brother of Tommy, Paul, Laurence, Elizabeth Clyde, Patricia McWilliams, Christina Mulholland and Philomena Mitchell, and the late Teresa Hamilton, Hughie, Josie Mulholland, John, Patsy, Seamus, Eileen Reid and baby Francis.