“Devoted family man” - the late Donal O’Donnell, Killybegs

Much sadness has been evoked locally following the recent sudden passing of Donal O'Donnell, late of Cashelcummin, Killybegs, surrounded by his loving family, peacefully in Donegal Hospice.

His remains reposed at his home before the Funeral Mass took place at St Mary of the Visitation Church, Killybegs on Sunday last, August 13.

Guards of honour were formed at Niall Mór NS and by members of Killybegs GAA and St Catherine’s soccer club

Parish Priest Fr Colm O’Gallchoir offered his sympathy to wife Moya, five daughters and son, his brothers and sisters and other family members.

He described Donal as a devoted family man, who both dearly loved and was loved by his family.

He said: “And in the midst of your heartbreak we call to mind how blessed you were to have such a good and caring husband and Dad, Granddad and brother and his thoughtfulness and kindness to many in the community, will never be forgotten.”

“And he was such a faithful parishioner, his faith was rock solid” with a special deviation to

Our Lady and St. Catherine of Alexandria.

Later in his homily, he said:

Daniel Thomas O’Donnell or Donal as he was known was born in August 1947 in Glenties at the hospital that was there then, the second eldest of a family born to Danny and Maggie O’Donnell, and was baptised in the same church in which his funeral took place, a day after he was born.

He was later to have his First Communion and Confirmation in the same Church, the one in which he worshipped throughout his life, collected the Offertory on Saturday evenings and was very supportive of the restoration of the Church.

Fr O’Gallchoir recalled: “He spent the first three years of his life living in Teelin, living with his mother and sister and the family and attended Niall Mór National School.

“Later he was the first person from Killybegs to go to Carrick Tech. He worked locally in the ice plant, In Nolan’s, in the Co-Op filleting fish and headed off to England in 1966 with Jimmy Cunningham and Lorcan McNulty working on building sites and then filleting fish in the famous Billingsgate market.

“The boys came home for Christmas that year and never returned to England. They thought that Killybegs was far more modern than London,” he said.

A fisherman by trade Donal started fishing on a number of boats, before embarking on his skipper’s ticket in 1974, thereafter skippering many other boats and for the last 15 years with the Sean Paul.

He had met his wife Moya Maloney in 1963 and they later married in Kilcar in April of 1973 and they were later blessed with six children as well as their twin boys, Donal and Dermot, beside whom Donal was laid to rest.

He enjoyed farming and beekeeping as well as training sheep dogs and he wasn’t bad on his trusty ipad either, Fr O'Gallchoir observed.

He was so involved in the local parish and community, running errands, providing haircuts for others and keeping many of the older population up to speed with what was happening in the local community, “all in his own quiet and unassuming way enhancing their quality of life greatly.”

He also took a great interest in looking after the local holy well, mass rick and local heritage generally.

“He always seemed to be the person to turn to, knowing what was to be done, in so many situations,” he added.

Donal also enjoyed watching football with other family members and was a keen Man City fan, “but was above all, a family man”.

Predeceased by his parents and brothers Conal and Charles, Donal will be sadly missed by his wife Maire, daughters Catherine, Helen, Sinéad, Anita and Genevieve, son Daniel, son in law Lee, grandchildren Trinity and Levi, sisters Margaret, Bríd and Mary, brother Padraig, the extended O’Donnell and Maloney families and friends to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

Burial followed afterwards in the local cemetery.