Ray Gallagher was appointed Sligo Rovers Club President, and Seamus Cummins as Vice President, at a ceremony in the Showgrounds on Saturday. Along with Ray and Seamus’ family and friends, the attendance included former players Tony Fagan, Chris Rutherford, Johnny Kenny, Martin McDonnell, and Nicky Broujos. Other guests included Frank Feighan TD, FAI match delegate Jim O’Connell, Ray’s former work colleague Carmel Feeney, members of the Management Committee, the Showgrounds Trustee Board, members of the Rovers Heritage Group, and Club volunteers.

Chair of the Showgrounds Trustee Board, Albert Higgins, recalled Ray’s first involvement with Rovers in the mid-60s when he invited him to the Showgrounds in his capacity as Agricultural Advisor to advise on the maintenance of the pitch. He outlined Ray’s pivotal role in securing the ground for Rovers in the late 60s and paid tribute to both Ray and Seamus for their outstanding contribution to the ground and the club over their lifetime of service.

Sligo Rovers Chairman Tommy Higgins said, “Today Sligo Rovers take the opportunity to honour two exemplary servants of the Club, Ray Gallagher and Seamus Cummins. In paying tribute to Ray and Seamus, I also want to acknowledge the special place held in this club for our former President, the late Paddy Gilmartin. Ray and Seamus are in the same tradition of dedicated volunteers. Ray served in a number of capacities since he first became involved in the 1960s, including Club Chairman and Chairman of our Development Committee. Arguably, his greatest legacy is in securing the Showgrounds for this club and this community.”