Death mourned of Ballybofey football stalwart Fergus McNulty

The death has taken place of Ballybofey football stalwart Fergus McNulty.

A member of the Finn Harps team that won the FAI Junior Cup in 1968, he was part of a committee that led Harps’ entry into the League of Ireland in 1969.

Mr McNulty, late of Drumboe Lower, Stranorlar, was also a founding member of Ballybofey United FC and he passed away on Friday at the Donegal Hospice.

Through the 1960s, he played for Finn Harps in a variety of summer cups locally as well as in the FAI Junior Cup.

He was a mainstay in the Harps side that won the FAI Junior Cup in ’68, playing in defence. He featured all through that campaign, including a three-game marathon in the final with Telephones United from Dublin.

After 1-1 and 2-2 draws, Harps - via goals from Liam McLaughlin Billy Jackson, Andy Hegarty and Alan Wellburn - won the second replay 4-0 at Leckview Park in Letterkenny.

Officials at Harps were long since keen to make the move into the league of Ireland and a committee was set up that included Harry McNulty - his father - Fran Fields, Patsy McGowan, Harry McGowan, Brendan McNulty, Des McLaughlin, Packie Tourish, Richie Kelly, James Barclay, Murdo Morrison and Fergus McNulty.

In 1969, Harps were accepted into the senior ranks. Although Fergus McNulty did not go on to play a senior game for the club, he remained involved before later becoming a founder member of Ballybofey United.

The club said: “Fergus was one of the founding committee members of Ballybofey United and played an important role in the early development of our club. He also dedicated his time as a manager of our underage teams, helping to nurture and inspire a generation of young players. 

“Many of the boys from that era will fondly remember Fergus as their very first football Manager, a man who shared his passion for the game with patience, encouragement, and kindness.

“Today, his legacy continues through his son Robert, who is one of our current underage coaches, proudly following in his father’s footsteps.”

He is survived by his wife Rita, children Michael (Caroline), Colin, Deirdre (Max), Andrew (Teresa), Terry (Carina) Aine (Dermot), Robert (Levina), grandchildren Luca, Liam, Niall, Ronan, Dylan, Aurora, siblings Michael (Sheila), Mary (Patsy deceased), Kenneth (Sarah) and Irene (Mick).

His funeral Mass will take place on Monday at 11am in the Church of Mary Immaculate Stranorlar with interment afterwards in Drumboe Cemetery.