The late Mick McGinley mourned in both Donegal and Dublin

The death of Michael (Mick) McGinley at his home in Rathfarnham, Dublin on Sunday was learned of with much regret in Dublin and especially in Donegal.

A native of Dunfanaghy, Mick McGinley was the father of 2014 Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley and although he spent his working life based in Dublin, his heart always remained in Donegal.

A talented sportsman, Mick McGinley was part of the first-ever Ulster minor winning Donegal team in 1956 when they defeated Armagh by 2-5 to 0-6 in St Tiernach’s Park, Clones. He was one of a number of the team who were students at St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny at the time.

He was still a minor the following year when Donegal lost out in the decider but went on to play senior football for Donegal from 1959 to 1961 before work took him away.

But while he was away from the county his great love of Donegal and Donegal GAA never wavered and he was a loyal supporter of the county team. His beaming smile was a constant and it seemed to be even broader in the recent past when Donegal were riding the crest of a wave.

One of his constant companions at those Donegal games was his famous son, Paul, who also became a huge supporter of all things Donegal, on the GAA fields and also helping to promote golf in the county.

Mick McGinley himself was an accomplished amateur golfer and he handed on that love of the sport to his sons. He was also a very successful businessman, setting up the telecommunications company Sigma Wireless.

His son, Paul, spoke recently about the role that his father played in his life and the difficulty of watching him in recent years after he developed Dementia during Covid. One of the last Donegal matches he attended was the Ulster final of 2022 against Derry.

“My father can’t say hello to me anymore, but he lights up with a smile when he sees my face,” revealed Paul McGinley recently.

That bright smile was central to the character that was Mick McGinley, who will be remembered as a very good friend of Donegal, both as a sportsman and as an employer.

His remains will be reposing at Fanagans Funeral Home, Willbrook, Rathfarnham (D14 WO29) on Thursday (1st January) from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

Mick McGinley’s funeral Mass will take place on Friday (2nd Jan) at 13.00pm in Church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham (D14 E803) followed by burial in Kilmashogue Cemetery.

Predeceased by his wife Jula (nee Sheridan, Rathmullan) and by his brother Brian and sister Betty, Mick McGinley is survived by Paul, Mary, Karen, Michael and Suzanne. He will also be sadly missed by family and in-laws, his grandchildren Niamh, Killian and Maia, Niall, James, Meabh and Michael, Sean, Luke and Liam, his sisters Marette and Kathleen, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

May he rest in peace.