Late Dessie Coughlin fondly remembered by fellow Benildus Babe, Paul McLoone

Ballyshannon and the surrounding area was both shocked and saddened on Monday last when news broke of the untimely passing of Dessie Coughlin.

 Everyone knew Dessie as he was an avid walker and would have done the "town walk" at least three or four times a week. 

Indeed, many people remarked at his wake that they had met him in recent weeks on one of these walks. His friendly demeanour meant that he always gave time to others to stop and chat and was very knowledgeable about the background of many of our families. 

His empathy and understanding were some of Dessie’s great strengths.

Dessie was third in line in a family of ten, seven boys and three girls, and was predeceased by his parents Paddy and Bridie.

I had the good fortune of knowing both his Mum and Dad as they shopped at our family newsagents Peggy Campbell's on Main Street. When the term “salt of the earth” was invented they must have had Paddy and Bridie in mind. The term’s meaning is a person or group of people of great kindness, reliability and honesty.

Paddy and Bridie’s legacy lives on as the Coughlin family are Ballyshannon stalwarts and their parents’ magnificent traits can be seen throughout the ever growing Coughlin clan. This is why we all loved Dessie and his passing leaves a great void within our community. 

Dessie was a student in De La Salle College and some of his early jobs included stints in Mulligans, the family construction business, Ballyshannon Iron Works and most importantly in the Erne Hosiery factory. 

It was at the latter where he met his wonderful wife Ann and there was no doubt from an early stage that they were made for one another, always radiating happiness whenever you met them. 

Dessie went on to spend most of his working life based at Finner Camp where he was a general operator for over 30 years.

Dessie was a great sports person all his life playing soccer in his younger years, running at an elite level with South Donegal Harriers and taking up swimming following his eventual retirement from running. 

He was a perfectionist always performing at the very top of his ability. 

He wrote a wonderful article for this publication in Feb 2022 “Benildus Babes are alive and kicking 50 years on” which celebrated the magnificent achievements of that soccer team in 1972 which Dessie both captained and managed. 

He was extremely proud that the whole team were still upstanding 50 years on but sadly Sean Boyle, in January ‘23, and now Dessie are no longer with us.

In mid life following complications after a workplace accident Dessie lost the sight in one eye. However, he showed great resilience and bravery and was an example to us all as he got on with life and shrugged off adversity. 

He was an inspiration and made little of his difficulties, always saying that there were others with much bigger problems than him.

Dessie and Ann were blessed with two children, Michael Des and Andrea, and three grandchildren, Grace, Callum and Keeva. Sadly, Keeva passed away in April 2023 at the tender age of eleven. Her gravestone reads: Bursting with love Keeva Marie (Dee Dee), too perfect for this world. 

Needless to say, Keeva’s passing brought unbearable sadness and grief to the whole Coughlin family. Dessie of course was heartbroken and carried that cross as best he could in the past number of years. Hopefully both of them are reunited in a better place, they were greatly loved and are so sadly missed.

I got to know Dessie quite well in 1972 as a member of the famous Benildus Babes. He was a lifelong Man Utd fan (Busby babes) and hailed from Benildus Ave, hence the name of the team that he came up with. 

Dessie had some difficulty pronouncing the exotically named United players in recent years but the expletives and adjectives used in his description left you in no doubt with whom he was referring to!! 

He was our leader, he still is. Rest in peace 

Dessie, you enriched all our lives and every single one of us are a much better person from knowing you. Lots of love from all of the ‘Babes’.

Paul McLoone