Con was born at Loughgill, Tubbercurry, county Sligo on 1st May 1927 (88 yrs). He came from a large family, having three brothers and seven sisters. In his youth he played a lot of sports, including playing for his native Tubbercurry in the Senior Football Championships in 1951.

Con worked as a sports correspondent for the Sligo Champion newspaper in his early career, before moving to work for Aer Lingus (National Airline) at Dublin during the mid 1950’s. While there he played in a draughts tournament sponsored by his employers which he won. While in Dublin he met the former Dublin Draughts champion Wm (Bill) Guerin with whom he practiced often, and Con would later attribute this to improving his game.

He worked in London 1959-1975 during which time he worked as a journalist for the Irish Post Newspaper. He became involved in the draughts scene within London, joining the Kilburn draughts team which he captained. This team dominated the London League championship in the early 1970’s. In 1972 he won the Kaiser Cup (London GAYP Championship)

While in London, Con Mc Carrick retained many contacts within the field of journalism at home, through which he was invited to appear on an Irish Television program in 1974 to talk about draughts. Through this me received many letters from draughts players throughout Ireland that enabled him to build up a list of contacts.

Con Mc Carrick and his family returned to Ireland to live at Dundalk in 1975. He linked up with the organizers of the Dublin Draughts Association and together they organized a meeting in the Central Hotel, Dublin during Feb 1976 where they established a national draughts organization - the Irish Draughts Association.

Con’s organizational skills were instrumental in arranging a Republic of Ireland Vs Northern Ireland draughts match held in Dublin on 15th May 1976. Although the Northern Ireland team were victorious the match spurred them on to organize further challenges which resulted in a Republic of Ireland Vs Wales challenge match held in Wales on 24th April 1977.

The Irish Draughts Association of which Con Mc Carrick was PRO organized the 1st Irish Draughts Championships in Castlebar during 1977. It was to prove to be a great success and paved the way for future annual draughts championships. Con then undertook a tour of venues in Ireland playing exhibition games and matches against players from local clubs to help promote the game. One of these was at the Lifford draughts club during 1977.

As a player Con won a number of Dublin Open and Dublin Masters Championships, was national tournament champion in 1980, 1981, 1989, 1991 and 1995. He also was runner-up in the British Open Championship, and won the British & Irish GAYP Championships in 1993. Con won the Northern Ireland Open Championships in 1979 and 1993 in addition to other events.

Con served as captain to the Republic of Ireland team that won the Home International Match Series in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996. He also played on the Great Britain & Ireland team that contested the 1983 (4th) 1989 (5th), 1995 (6th) and 2001 (7th) matches against the USA. He served a match referee for the Derek Oldbury Vs Ron King WCM and the Marion Tinsley VS Chinook WCM held at London, and was nominated as one of the Directors of the ICHF.

Apart from his personal achievements Con was an outstanding promoter of the game and his media background was used to gain publicity for the game in many ways, whether he was playing a challenge match against an computer or entering the Guinness Book of World Records when he took on 154 players at the Marist Hall, Dundalk in March 1982.

Today is a day to reflect on someone, the likes of who are seldom found. He was predeceased by his wife in 1985. To his family we express our sincere condolences. He will be buried tomorrow at St. Patrick’s Church in Dundalk after the 11.00 service. May he rest in peace.