Cormac McAnallen was born on 11 February 1980 in Dungannon. He lived in the Brantry, a rural area in the Dungannon district, with his parents Brendan and Bridget, and his brothers Dónal and Fergus.
Between 1984 and 1990 Cormac attended Derrylatinee Primary School; from 1990 to 1997 he attended Saint Patrick’s Grammar School, Armagh; from 1997 to 2001 he was a student at Queen’s University, Belfast; and in 2001/02 he studied at University College Dublin, carrying out teaching practice at St. Benildus’ College, Stillorgan.
From 2002 to 2004 Cormac taught in St. Catherine’s College, Armagh. His subjects included History, Politics, Mathematics and French, and he managed school sports teams.
Cormac made his name as a Gaelic footballer playing for CLG Naomh Pádraig An Eaglais, Tír Eoghain and Éire, winning the highest national and international honours in the game at a relatively young age. He came to particular attention by serving as a captain of a number of these successful teams.
As a captain Cormac was often asked to coach and speak to youth teams. In his after-school hours he acted as a Youth-Sport co-ordinator for Armagh district, and he was frequently a coach at Tír Eoghain GAA Summer Camp.
In his spare time, Cormac played a wide range of sports – including hurling, golf, table tennis and soccer – and loved watching every type of sport. He was also a keen participant in quizzes, and he took a great interest in history and Gaelic culture.
Cormac died on 2 March 2004 with a heart condition. Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam uasal.
LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS
Here follows a list of some of Cormac’s notable sporting and academic achievements:
- Cumann Naomh Pádraig, An Eaglais
- Tyrone MFC (2): 1996, 1997
- Tyrone MFL: 1996
- Tyrone IFC: 1997
- Trath na gCeist, Scór na nÓg Thír Eoghain (3): 1992, 1993, 1994
- All-Ireland Scór na nÓg Trath na gCeist: 1995
- Trath na gCeist, Scór Sinsear Thír Eoghain (3): 1999, 2001, 2003
Tír Eoghain
- Ulster MFL: 1998
- Ulster MFC (2): 1997, 1998 – latter as captain
- All-Ireland MFC: 1998 – as captain
- Ulster U-21 FC (2): 2000, 2001 – both as captain
- All-Ireland U-21 FC (2): 200, 2001 – both as captain
- Ulster SFC: (2): 2001, 2003
- NFL (2): 2002, 2003
- McKenna Cup: 2004 – as captain
- GAA Young Footballer of the Year: 2001
- Ulster GAA Writers’ Personality of the Year 1998 & Footballer of the Year 2001
- Belfast Telegraph GAA Personality of the Year: 2001
- GAA All-Star: 2003 (as full-back)
Scoil Ghramadaí Naomh Pádraig, Ard Mhacha
- Nannery Cup (Ulster U-15½ FC)
- Ulster Schools ‘A’ Basketball titles from U-14 to U-19
- Blackboard Jungle RTÉ quiz winners, 1996/97
Ollscoileanna (QUB & UCD)
- Ryan Cup: 1999
- Sigerson Cup: 2000
- Graduated from Queen’s in 2000 with B.A. in History, and in 2001 with Postgraduate Diploma in Computer-Based Learning
- Dublin SFC: 2002
- Graduated from UCD in 2002 with Higher Diploma in Education (first-class honours)
- Graduated in 2002
- Queen’s University Graduate of the Year: 2004
Ulaidh
- Railway Cup FC: 2003 (also played in 2001)
- Represented Ulster at basketball from U-14 to U-17 levels
Éire
- Represented Ireland at International Rules v. Australia: 2001, 2002, 2003
