Hugh O' Donnell, Kilcar Canon John Gallagher, Kilcar in his homily at the funeral mass of Hugh O' Donnell, Strankirka, Kilcar, on December 22nd 2005 said that Hugh was: "A larger than life figure in the local community and even though he was well advanced in years he refused to grow old as others grow old. He remained young at heart and never withdrew into a lay-by from the mainstream of life. He loved the buzz of social intercourse. No one ever saw him standing by the wall in isolation. "He was always the centre of a group be it before Mass or waiting for a funeral, in Michael Hughie's or at the mart. He drew energy from the company of others and others in turn became energised and uplifted by his company. "Outside the Church, and always in good time I might add, he had a word for everyone from the altar servers to the parish priest. His vibrant, friendly and upbeat mood gave him popularity with people if all ages. Even the major illnesses of recent years did not put a damper on his spirit. He was happy with the hand life dealt him and he kept each period of he life alive in the stories that belonged to it. He did not dwell on the hard work of his years in England of at home but I'm sure he was glad to get back to Stanakirka and to the people he knew and loved in the surrounding area when he came on his honeymoon years ago and never returned. "His social life as a footballer contained vivid and happy memories where he got to know many people and made enduring friendships some of which lasted a lifetime. Occasionally he found entertainment nearer home - indeed no farther away than the river at the end of his field - exploits that culminated in occasional narrow escapes; events that later in life were woven into the fabric of many entertaining stories. I think Hugh was happy with each stage of life, he had no regrets or wished that things might have been otherwise." "Many of the throngs of people that attended his wake commented on how fit and strong he was. Another feature of his like that received worthy mention was his willingness to help others in need. To be able to see and to respond to the needs of others is a gift. It was summed up by the poet Alexander Pope in immortal lines which said: Teach me to feel another's woe, To hid the faults I see, That mercy I too others show, That mercy show to me. "Hugh and Lene reared a large family and that itself was an achievement in poor times, indeed one could say that it was an art - an art that had been lost in a more affluent Ireland. Over the last number of weeks as his family journeyed with him to the edge of eternity in his final illness. "I'm sure many times they hoped that he would recover sufficiently to enable him to come home. Somehow I think that a life of illness would not appeal to him. It is hard to imagine him finding contentment or fulfilment struggling from a sick bed to the fire. He would not be himself in a dressing gown and bedroom slippers, eating spoons of custard and drinking sips of milk. "When Hugh's comparatively long life ended there was both a family and a community of sadness but we must not loose sight of the fact that life is much greater than one's earthly existence," said Fr Gallagher. Hugh was the Uachtaran of C.L.G. Chill Chartha in 2005, having give long years of service to the club. In his youth he played at Gavigan's holmes in Stranakirka and that prepared him for his long career playing Gaelic Football. He played from the mid-forties to the mid-fifties. He won a Senior Championship with Killybegs in 1952, playing at "left corner back". In 1954 when there were three teams in the Kilcar/Glen area, Naomh Cartha and Lamh Dearg in Glencolmcille he played with Naomh Columba, Carrick, but it was in Towney that he played most of his football. Go ndeanfaidh Dia trochaire ar a anam dilis. Micheal O Donhnaill penned the following few lines in memory of Hugh: Fagann muid slan agat go foill Alaoch crogha, calma no nGael Thug tu tarrthail i gconai do chach Nuair a bhiodh said dul i mbaol Bhi gnuais an ghaire ort de shior Thog croi no nog as sean Go bhfaigh to ait in Aras De I measc na bhfear as Ban. Courtesy of the Donegal Democrat 19 January 2006 Tweet

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