“A very kind, calm and gentleman” - Late Kevin McGlynn, Letterkenny and Falcarragh

There was huge sadness in Letterkenny and Falcarragh following the recent passing at the Donegal Hospice of Kevin J. McGlynn, late of Meendareagh Park, Woodlands, Letterkenny.

Formerly of Falcarragh and Letterkenny ESB, deceased passed peacefully surrounded by his loving loving family,

At his Funeral Mass in the Church of the Irish Martyrs Ballyraine, Letterkenny mourners were told by Fr Charlie Deeney that death is a painful and difficult reality and especially someone who is near and dear to us.

Chief celebrant at the Funeral Mass Fr Deeney, who is from the same area of Letterkenny where Kevin grew up was joined by concelebrants Fr Dominic Thoomkuzhy C.C. and Fr Michael Carney P.P. Ramelton

Giving thanks for Kevin’s life and all the good that he did during his life, especially with wife Una and his children, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren, he described the late Mr McGlynn’s hunger for knowledge and mastering his craft being only superseded by his overriding love of family, who were his most treasured possession.

Kevin was one of eleven children, of parents Patrick and Annie, all of whom had now passed except for his brother Danny and his brother Joe, who resides in the United States.

Kevin was a Letterkenny man and he began his life on the Market Square, above the family butcher shop.

And then the family moved to Ard O’Donnell in 1947, more commonly known as the Burma, taking its name from the contemporaneous building of the famous Burma Road in the Far East before World War Two.

Fr Deeney recalled how the McBrides (Una’s family) and the McGlynn’s “lived right side to side with one another”.

“So Kevin has known Una for a long long time, he said.

The couple were married in 1954, Kevin having begun his working life as a mechanic at Jim Caddy’s, before moving over to Fenton’s electricians, where he undertook an apprenticeship as an electrician.

At this stage, he joined the ESB, taking a position first in Letterkenny before later moving to Falcarragh.

While in Letterkenny the deceased had also been a member of the local Fire Brigade.

On moving to Falcarragh, he remained working with the ESB, until his retirement in 2001, before moving back to his native Letterkenny.

In other spheres, the deceased was also a very keen golfer and his retirement opened up new opportunities to pursue his passion.

He served both as a past Captain and a Past President of the Dunfanaghy Golf Club.

Memories of his life that were taken to the altar included his shed sign, where he spent many happy hours, his golf badge and shoes representing his great love of golf, a Manchester United teddy for his favourite soccer team, his ESB safety hat which represented more than just his job, one which he never missed a day at, in his working career.

Deceased was described as a “very kind, calm and gentle man, who had a great hunger for knowledge and always trying to master his own craft.”

Fr Deeney said: “And maybe to illustrate his kindness and his calmness the story is told, that Philip his son, on one occasion convinced Kevin that he needed new tyres for his car. Philip went and bought the most expensive tyres and when he got home, he proceeded to remove the tyres from Kevin’s car and put them on his own rally car. And he went out to rally and did quite well, but at the expense of his father’s new tyres.

“Now Kevin copped on very quickly that the tyres were pretty worn for a car that was only a week old, but he never said anything.

“Philip put the tyres back on Kevin’s car without Kevin knowing it, so that was a true depiction of his calm and gentle nature.”

Fr Deeney that to his beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren Kevin was known as Ga “and was loved and adored by them and he equally adored them”.

Fr Deeney explained how Kevin enjoyed the simple things of life and that his whole life centred around Una, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He added that while there was obvious sadness all around, there was “also joy remembering the person that Kevin was”.

Kevin was the dearly loved husband of Una, adored father of Kate Melly Ballyshannon (Michael), Philip, Bundoran (Mary), Kevin, Sligo (Catherine).

Greatly missed by his grandchildren Michael Jnr, Kevin, Brian, Philip John, Kevin Jnr, Katie and Tory and Great grandchildren, Michael, Jack, Bobby, Laura and Leah.

He will be sadly missed by his siblings, nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, cousins, neighbours and a wide circle of friends to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

After the Funeral Mass, which took place on December 5, 2023 at the Church of the Irish Martyrs, Ballyraine, the deceased was buried at Leck cemetery.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.