Killybegs Athletic Club say goodbye to the 'legend' Paddy O’Donnell

Killybegs Athletic Club have expressed their condolences following the passing of Paddy O’Donnell, whom they describe as a “legend.”

Paddy - of Carricknamohill, Killybegs - passed surrounded by his loving family at Donegal Hospice on Thursday. He is predeceased by his parents James and Sara, his baby brother Phelim and his brother-in-law Paddy Byrne.

Sadly missed by his partner Margaret and her son Shaun. Deeply regretted by his sister Christine, his brother Seamus, his sister-in-law Kathleen, his nephews James and Mark, his nieces Helena, Joanne and Amay, his uncle Phelim, his cousins and his many friends and neighbours.

Paddy’s remains are reposing at McBrearty's Funeral Home, Killybegs on Friday, May 9, till 9pm. Funeral mass on Saturday in St Mary of the Visitation Church, Killybegs at 2pm with burial afterwards in the local cemetery.

“We were saddened to hear of the death of athletics legend Paddy O'Donnell this morning,” Killybegs AC posted on Thursday. “Paddy burst onto the athletics scene in 1975 when he won both the Ulster Youth and Ulster U-20 cross country titles.

“He was a member of the Donegal cross-country team that won the BLE senior grade B championship in Waterford in 1978 and the BLE Intermediate title in Westport two years later. He was selected on the Ulster senior team for the Galtee International Cross Country in Cork.

“Paddy was ever present on winning Donegal inter-county teams in the Ulster senior cross-country from 1977 to 1986. He won the Ulster intermediate cross-country championship on nine occasions between 1976 and 1985 and led Killybegs to the team title on each occasion and was selected on the Donegal Athletics Team of the Millennium in 2000.

“He had been in poor health for the last few months, but none of us expected him to die so soon, and his funeral is on Saturday afternoon at two. Rest in Peace Paddy, you will be remembered for your great talent and gentle personality.”