Sadness at death of esteemed curragh builder, fisherman, banjo player, writer and storyteller

There was widespread regret in the area on hearing of the death in Aras Ui Domhnaill Nursing Home in Milford of Charles John Coll ‘Sheephaven View’ Breaghy Portnablagh. 

The deceased was 92 years old and was predeceased by his wife Mary Teresa a number of years ago.  

Charles John was a member of the Coll family from Breaghy and he spent the most of his life living in the family home in Breaghy before moving to live with his daughter Marie and her husband Charlie in recent years. 

The Colls were involved in the fishing industry in Portnablagh for generations and, as a young man, Charles John along with his brother Andrew built a curragh and fished the waters of Sheephaven Bay before Andrew emigrated to England.  

Charles John never lost his love of the sea and he and Andrew built a number of curraghs over the years including one that is on permanent display in Dunfanaghy Workhouse. In later years he also made miniature curraghs and enjoyed fishing by rod on nearby Sessiagh Lough. 

Charles John worked in Ramsay’s Stores in Dunfanaghy for a number of years before spending some time working feeding the Council crusher at Knocknafaugher.  

He then went to work in Ards Forest Park and that was where he spent the most of his working days before he retired in 1988. 

Charles John was also a talented Banjo player and he played in a number of bands over the years and he raised money for charity when he joined others in the Sheephaven Mummers for a number of years. 

He was a great storyteller and just a few weeks ago he published some of these in his book Times Gone By with the proceeds going to the Donegal Hospice.

After a viewing in the Eternal Light Chapel of Rest in Letterkenny, Charles John’s remains were removed on Sunday evening, January 30, to St Michael’s Church in Creeslough to repose overnight. 

His Funeral Mass in St Michael’s Church on Monday, February 1 was celebrated by Fr John Joe Duffy.  The concelebrants were Fr Martin Doohan PP, Holy Cross Dunfanaghy and Fr Pat McGarvey PP, Fanavolty. 

In his Homily at the Funeral Mass Fr John Joe Duffy spoke of Charles John’s great love of the sea and his local area and he described him as a hard-working man who had a deep faith.  

He also welcomed to the Mass Charles John’s brother Andrew who was watching the Mass via webcam from London.

The Symbols at his Funeral Mass reflected Charles interests in life and they included a model of a curragh, a St Brigid’s cross, a prayer book and rosary and a CD to symbolise his love of music. 

Father John Joe quoted part of his poem Autumn, and also mentioned that he had the first verse of a new poem written, When Roses Come Again. 

Burial took place afterwards in the family plot in Doe Cemetery.

The deepest sympathy of the community is extended to his sons Eamon and Brendan, daughters Claire, Marie and son in law Charlie Nelis, to his brother Andrew and sister-in-law Carmel in London, his grandsons Charles and Aaron, to his nieces and nephews and to the entire family circle.