The late Enda Bonner remembered as ‘hard-working, resilient and loyal’

Former Senator and Councillor, Enda Bonner, was remembered as a “hard-working, resilient and loyal man” at his Funeral Mass in Dungloe.

Mr Bonner, who was highly regarded in political and sporting circles, passed away at the age of 76 at Letterkenny University Hospital.

His funeral Mass took place at St Crona’s Church, with Chief Celebrant Fr John Joe Duffy, who stepped in for Parish Priest Fr Pat Ward, who passed on his apologies, as he is currently out of the country.

The gifts reflected Mr Bonner’s wide variety of interests, with medals brought up for his sporting achievements, a photo as Mayor to represent his commitment to public life, a calculator for his accountancy career and a walking stick to represent determination to go to Celtic games as he grew older.

His son Patrick paid a moving tribute capturing the highlights of Mr Bonner’s life and achievements.

“As a lot of you may know, my father was a very hard-working, resilient and loyal man,” Patrick said. “But what some people there don't know is that, over the years, Dad could have that tough exterior on, but what his family did know, beneath it all, was that he was very caring and passionate.

“His first interest in life, without a doubt, was his family. My mother, his wife, Phyllis, his daughters, Elaine and Elizabeth, and myself, and in later life, his granddaughter, Brooke, who was like a daughter to him. And then Mason, his grandson, and my children, Colin, Conall, and Elodie. All his family were his true love.

“Dad loved a bit of a laugh, and he liked maybe winding up, but again, beneath it all, he was really soft. He loved Celtic, the Irish football team and athletics. He loved everything Irish and he would be so proud today when his coffin came down in the tricolour.”

Having completed his secondary education at Gormanston College in Co Meath, Mr Bonner played and captained and won the Sigerson Cup, whilst graduating with a B Comm degree from University College Galway.

His career as a Donegal senior player was relatively short, having first lined out in the 1971 Ulster Championship against Down in 1971, before making his way to New York the following day. He made his last Donegal appearance in 1974 and took on the role of auditing the county's GAA finances since 1975 until recently.

Mr Bonner continued to play for Dungloe until he was 35. Apart from his underage success, he captained Rosses Rovers to a senior county final against St Joseph's in 1970. His successes at adult level were winning a Junior title with Ranafast in 1969 and a Junior B title with Dungloe in 1983.

“His biggest passion was the GAA, Donegal and Dungloe in particular. Dad's love for GAA could never be questioned,” Patrick continued. “He worked tirelessly for his club and he never left Dungloe. He would have been so happy when we came in there on Sunday to see the guard of honour he got from the club.”

He served as a Fianna Fáil county councillor for the Glenties electoral area for 20 years, from 1999 to 2019 and was elected as the first Mayor of Donegal County Council. He served as Senator from 1997 to 2002, contesting the 1997 General Election in Donegal South-West.

Mr Bonner also spent a great deal of time in Letterkenny and Drumoghill. He was also Captain, President and Honorary Secretary in Narin & Portnoo Golf Club and a board member at Rosses Community School.

“Dad was very resilient,” Patrick added. “I remember in 1997 when he just narrowly lost the general election. He'd done so well, but unfortunately he got caught on transfers and I at that stage, I always remember standing there in the hall with the tears running down my eyes. It was very hard for Dad because he really wanted it but it just didn't work out.

“He got back up and soon after he was a senator and started a very successful career where he became a county councillor in late life and he had successful elections and unsuccessful elections and that's the way life goes.

“Dad was resilient because he could get knocked down, but by God he could get up. He fought to the bitter end. With his health, he was in hospital quite a bit over the years and he didn't let his health get him down.

“Over the years, we may have had disagreements or we may have come to loggerheads, but I think that's just because we were actually so alike that we were both standing up for what we believed in. I hope to pass on the great virtues of caring, resilience, loving, and hardworking to my children.

“Dad, you've done more journeys than anyone I have ever known. If we put a tracker on you over the years, the amount of miles you would have done coming in and out to Dungloe, I couldn't even guess where the figure would start. Now, sadly we send you on your final journey. Dad, I hope you rest because if anyone deserves peace it is most certainly you. Love now and always, your best friend.”

The Requiem Mass was concelebrated by Fr Nigel Ó’ Ghallchóir, Fr Brian O’Fearraigh, Fr Sean Ó’ Ghallchóir, Fr Michael McCullagh, Fr Ailbe O'Murchu, Fr Aodhan Cannon and Fr Michael Herrity. Attended by Captain Christopher Mulligan, aide-de-camp to An Taoiseach Michéal Martin, Cllr Anthony Molloy, Glenties Municipal District Chair, former Oireachtas colleagues as well as past and present council members.

“Today is a very sad day for us all to say farewell to one who was very loved by us and one who helped us in so many ways,” Fr Duffy said.

“Enda had a faith that was deep and personal; the only thing that he ever asked of me was to either offer a Mass for someone who had died or to say a prayer for himself.

“I once went on a boat with Enda out to Arranmore Island and the engine broke down. There were others here today who were on that boat as well and we landed on the beach. Instead of Enda getting his feet wet and one or two others with him, I drew the short straw or volunteered, as I was the younger one.

“I was in secondary school at the time to get out and to carry a few people on my back ashore from the boat and I carried Enda on my back ashore from the boat.

“Dear friends, I might have carried Enda that day when I was in secondary school, but ever since then, Enda has been carrying me on his back as he has carried many of you on his back in times of trial and in times of challenge and in times of any type of difficulty; Enda was there for us.

“Many tributes have been paid to him in the last number of days, but the greatest tribute of all has been paid to him today by the presence of each and every person because that is what was important to Enda.

“The huge amount of people who came to the funeral home; the personal touch was most important to him and he had perfected that very much in his life.

“In politics, Enda had a very deep sense of social conscience, seeking to help as many people as possible, building up community especially. He reached out to those that the system failed in some ways.

“He was noted for assisting many people, many families with planning permission, good water schemes and social improvements and also road improvements and so on.

“He devoted a majority of his time to public service, the betterment of communities and striving to improve people's lives. He left no stone unturned. He was a formidable debater. His style was direct, but it was based on honesty and loyalty. To give much, to contribute your utmost to constant help is what life should be about and that was Enda.

“Enda said that becoming Mayor was one of the proudest moments of his life; outside of that, he was most proud of his family.”

Sadly missed by his loving and devoted wife Phyllis, his children Elaine (Kevin), Elizabeth (Arpad) and Patrick (Valerie), his adored grandchildren Brooke, Mason, Conal and Elodie. Predeceased by his parents Dom and Ann Teresa Bonner and missed by his sisters Pauline, Aideen (Martin RIP), Crona (Paddy), his nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family and friends.

Mr Bonner was laid to rest at Dungloe Cemetery on his late mother Ann Teresa’s birthday, September 1.