Michael 'Jack' O'Donnell remembered by unveiling of photo at MacCumhaill Park

There will only ever be one Michael 'Jack'

Peter Campbell (Donegal Democrat)

There will only ever be one Michael 'Jack' O'Donnell, the Glenties photographer, who graced the sidelines of every GAA pitch in Donegal and far beyond from the 1980s until 2021.

No need to reserve a seat for Michael 'Jack' as he was inside the grounds with his long lens long before the arrival of supporters. He was an early bird, who despite having to be alert to catch the action, also stayed to the very end to enjoy the occasion.

At today's game between Donegal and Monaghan, it is fitting that a space will be set aside in the MacCumhaill Park press box for a framed photograph of Michael 'Jack' to celebrate his memory.

The family of the late Michael 'Jack' O'Donnell pictured at the unveiling in MacCumhaill Park 

It is over 10 months now since Michael 'Jack' was taken to his Clones or Croke Park in the sky, and his passing has left a gulf in the press world. We all knew that he was fighting a tough battle but that was never visible in Michael's exterior - that smile and positivity was there until the end.

Some people just have a way with them and this was so true with Michael 'Jack'. His job as a photographer was just a labour of love; gates were opened for him long before he reached them, such was his popularity. That ability to have time to stop for a chat and have the craic with everyone who he came in contact with will remain one of his greatest legacies.

He could always find the correct place to be ready for the start of the game and his long lens could find the action wherever it took place on the field.

Every year that positive vibe that he had was rolled out and he wouldn't tolerate a negative or bad word about a Donegal player, or indeed a Naomh Conaill player. Every game was a new game and one that they would win. Defeats were dealt with in a similar way; there will be another day.

He had the same attitude with his own illness, each leg a battle that had to be won. There was no thought of the negative. Every time you would ask him how he was doing, the word 'great' would be included in the reply.

His greatest gift was that he was able to enjoy life and live in the moment. It was said that he was late for everything except a Gaelic football match. The match-day alarm was set for 9 am for a 3 pm throw-in. He was first to arrive at MacCumhaill Park or wherever the action was; a lunch or coffee in The Just Inn a pre-requisite.

His eye for a photograph was legendary and I'm sure there is a corner in the sports fields in Heaven just ready for his pull-along box and seat . . . and the long lens. That was his pride and joy, the first in the county to have a sports lens, that was not cheap when he purchased it in the 1980s.

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It allowed him to capture anything within a range of 200m, be it action on the field or a face in the crowd. Hopefully, there will be some legal minds in that place in the sky to throw an eye over 'Jack's' captions to make sure they are politically correct!
And lest it be forgotten, Michael 'Jack' was himself a very talented footballer, playing county minor and U-21 for Donegal. He was corner-back on the Donegal U-21 team of 1974, narrowly defeated by Derry in Claudy by 1-10 to 0-11. The report in the following week's Democrat said: "Martin Griffin had an outstanding game at full-back while Michael O'Donnell and Finian Ward also defended well."

Michael 'Jack' was part of a Sligo/Leitrim P&T team which were narrowly defeated in an All-Ireland Inter-Firms final in Croke Park in 1975, losing 2-8 to 1-10 with Michael scoring a point.

Above all Michael 'Jack' O'Donnell was loyal . . . to his family and friends and in the sporting world, to his beloved Naomh Conaill and Donegal. While his interest in photography was a joy rather than work, he was in heaven when sitting on the side of a field. He was prepared for all weather, ready to get that special shot.

The stories will continue to be told about Michael 'Jack' for a long time to come. I'm sure there will also be games to be covered where he is now.

Michael 'Jack' O'Donnell - born November 2 1953 ; died May 1 2021.