Mayor, and wife of Charlie Gallagher expresses ‘double honour’ at plaque unveiling

The late Garda Charlie Gallagher was honoured at an event held at Donegal Town Garda Station, with the unveiling of a new portrait and plaque in his honour.

His wife, the Mayor of Donegal Town, Anna Gallagher, said that the event was a “double-honour” for her, being Garda Gallagher’s wife and the local Mayor.

Proceeds from the event went towards Donegal Hospice.  

Garda Gallagher was from Belcruit, Kincasslagh, and later of Newtown, Donegal Town. He was a keen Gaelic footballer with both his native Dungloe and then of Four Masters, as well as lining out for the Donegal and Irish Masters (over-40s).

In 2016, Garda Gallagher was one of the four Donegal players named in the Irish Masters squad for the two-test international rules series against Australia. That same year, he was at midfield as Donegal won the All-Ireland Masters Shield, following their victory over Offaly.

Garda Charlie Gallagher passed away in July 2022.

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As well as Mayor Gallagher, Garda Gallagher’s children and parents were among the attendees, including former Tánaiste and current Donegal GAA chairperson, Mary Coughlan, current TD, Pat ‘The Cope Gallagher’, councillors Noel Jordan and Jimmy Brogan, and Father John Joe Duffy, the parish Priest of Creeslough and Dunfanaghy. 

Speaking to Donegal Live, Mayor Gallagher said: “Charlie was a very proud member of An Garda Síochána. For me to be here as his wife and with his children, now as the role of Mayor of Donegal Town, it is a double honour to be here.

“Charlie served his community with a lot of heart, dignity, and compassion, and that is how I found myself in the role of Mayor. The community really got behind us when Charlie fell ill, and I just felt in my role as Mayor, I could give back to the community in highlighting the issues in the town, all the charities, all the good work that is going on. 

“I have met some wonderful people, and for us as a family, we are still continuing the legacy that Charlie left behind, which is important to us. 

“There is a lot of healing in giving to other people, and being out in the community has really helped us.”

Mayor Gallagher then told her personal story with Charlie Gallagher. She commented: “I met Charlie when he was in training to be a Garda. He grew up in the west of the county in Dungloe. He was a very proud Dungloe man. He was originally born in Glasgow. West Donegal people have a lot of strong connections to Glasgow.

“He came here as a 9-year-old boy and started to learn Irish. He went to an all-Irish-speaking school, and he immersed himself in the Irish language. He went to the Rosses Community School. He had many good friends who are supportive of myself and the children. 

“I was the manager of Donegal Town Leisure Centre, and Charlie was a member, and that was how we met. We thought about how he could have been stationed anywhere in the country, and he got Donegal Town. He absolutely loved Donegal Town. He would say, Aren’t we lucky that we live here?

“Charlie loved serving the people of Donegal Town. He was initially sent to Pettigo, a border town during the Troubles, and after the Peace Process, Pettigo didn’t need so many Garda on the border, which was a positive step.  

“He then went to Carndonagh for a short while, while we were engaged, and then he got back to Donegal Town, where he worked for the rest of his career, right up to the week he got diagnosed with brain cancer. He loved his job.

“Even in the hospice, he still felt he would get out and be fitted for his new uniform. That was the amount of hope he had, and he did try to fight the cancer as much as he could, but unfortunately, it was Grade 4, and Charlie got 20 weeks from his initial diagnosis until he passed. It was very quick. 

“He loved the GAA and the Four Masters. He immersed himself in all aspects of community life. You would often see him on the Diamond, talking to everybody and young people especially. Charlie would rather talk to the person, find out what was happening and direct them to a new direction.” 

Opening up the speeches on the microphone was Garda Oliver Devenney. He said: “Today is something that is very important, and we are really inspired by such a large turnout coming through the gates this morning. 

The generosity of everybody who donated some food or goodies is very much appreciated. Without their help, it would not be possible to have this event.” 

Former Tánaiste, and Donegal GAA Chairperson, Mary Coughlan, expressed her support for the cause to Donegal Live: “Supporting the hospice is hugely important as a movement. I personally have benefited from the support of Letterkenny and Sligo hospices, so it is important that we give back. You don’t realise how important they are until you need them.

“I have to say that the hospice movement in Ireland is probably one of the most highly regarded in the world, not to mention the palliative care that we all get. Unfortunately, a lot of people have been touched by the hospice, so that is why it is important to give back.”

Councillor Noel Jordan stated: “It just shows what Charlie Gallagher meant to this community, with the job he was doing in the town and the surrounding areas. Charlie was heavily involved with the GAA, and you can see a lot of his friends and ex-colleagues as well out there today.

“I think it is a real tribute to Charlie Gallagher.”