A golden day for Peadar and Sadie McGranaghan on diamond anniversary

A diamond wedding anniversary - but Castlefin couple Peadar and Sadie McGranaghan had a golden reason to celebrate their 60th anniversary. 

After all, there was no way Finn Valley AC stalwart Peadar was going to miss the National Senior Cross Country Championships when they were on the doorstep.

The Championships were hosted at the Templemore Sports Complex in Derry and Peadar whisked Sadie off for a Sunday in the Maiden City. 

Sixty years to the day, on November 23, 1965, Peadar and Sadie were married at St Patrick’s Church in Castlederg.

A club president at Finn Valley AC, Peadar has also been a longtime coach at the club and remains every bit as enthusiastic as ever.

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Peadar, who hails originally from Keelogs, Ballindrait, has been involved at Finn Valley AC since 1974.

An ever-present at the club since those early days, he remains an integral cog in the wheel.

In the early years, Peadar had a training base at Porter’s Field, next to the family home at Hillhead, Castlefin, where he Sadie reared a family of six.

Peadar watched with pride as the Finn Valley AC senior women won team silver in the National Senior while the U12 girls took bronze.

There was a special moment as he watched the U16 Finn Valley AC girls land gold with young ace Saorla Gilligan seeking out Peadar after the win was confirmed.