The late Charlie Campbell Tributes were paid in the Council Chamber to former Donegal County Councillor, Charlie Campbell from Dungloe, who died at Letterkenny General Hospital after a short illness. Leading the tributes Clr, Enda Bonner told the meeting that the late Mr Campbell, who was 86, had been one of his best friends. Charlie, who served as a public representative on the local authority from 1955 to 1960, had been ill for two months prior to his death. "He was a great man and a great goalkeeper," Clr Bonner said, adding that it was because of his footballing exploits that Charlie was asked by Fine Gael to contest the Glenties Area. He was a tailor by trade and along with his wife, he ran a shop. "He was non-political, even though he was a Fine Gael Councillor," Clr Bonner remarked. "He supported me, David Alcorn and Pat The Cope - he was always more interested in the person rather then the party. I never heard him saying a bad word about anybody." Clr Bonner said that the former councillor was Donegal goalkeeper between 1944 and 1954, while St Eunan's Michael Mellet would have deputised for him from time to time. He was succeeded by Seamus Hoare, Alan Kenae from Ballyshannon filled the position for a time before Noel McCole, a nephew of Charlie's, was the country's first choice goalkeeper for another ten years period. Clr Bonner said that the late Charlie had managed the Dungloe team in 1958 - the last year the club won the senior championship. "I got to know him in 1967 and he became one of my best friends," he said. Clr Bonner had been selected for the Donegal minor team and the late Charlie was his driver. "As a young man it was great to have him with me. I learned a lot." Clr Bonner described Charlie's shop as the official headquarters of the Dungloe GAA Club and for many years the teams were put up on the shop window. Charlie was predeceased by his wife Eileen on September 20th, 1992 - the day Donegal won the All-Ireland title and Clr Bonner said it was unfortunate that Charlie was unable to go to the match. Clr Bonner also travelled regularly to support Finn Harps with Charlie and his two favourite players were Ray Gaston and Brendan Bradley. Charlie also went Glasgow to support Celtic along with Clr Bonner, Paddy Sweeney and his son, Jamie. And the quartet always shared a room. Clr Bonner revealed that Charlie's trip outside the country was to to Paris for a game between Celtic and Paris St German - on that occasion Charlie went up the Eiffel Tower along with Clr Bonner and Patsy Boyle. Clr Bonner stressed that his friend never had an enemy on or off the pitch and was involved with Dungloe during the years of big rivalry between themselves and Gweedore. Stating that Charlie was always young at heart, Clr Bonner added that for the last five years, he would visit Charlie and his good friend, Jim Boyle for an hour and a half twice a week, the three would partake in the crack. "He was my eyes and ears when it came to what was happening in the locality," Clr Bonner commented. Clr Bonner told the meeting that Charlie was a regular listener to Radio na Gaeltachta and after the last council meeting he heard that Clr Alcorn had been elected to serve as a Council representative on the Health Executive. He heard Clr Alcorn explain what his role would be and that the region stretched from North Tipperary to Donegal. "The first thing he said to me when I put my head around the door was 'I certainly will miss him'." Clr Alcorn said he heard many, many fond stories about the late Charlie Campbell and noted that when he was a councillor in the fifties and sixties, it wasn't as fashionable. "It was very, very different and it was done on a voluntary basis. He was a great character who kept his ear to the ground. Himself and Eileen had the shop and were known far and near. It's important to remember people like that and that we try and represent the area as well as they did," Clr Alcorn added. Clt Terence Slowey said he met the deceased a number of years ago and was 'bowled over' by him. "He was very extroverted and he wasn't dyed in wool - he could have been a member of any political party. He's a great loss to his family and friends. May he rest in peace," Clr Slowey added. Clr Padraig O'Dochartaigh said he knew Charlie Campbell for a long time. He remembered going with hid uncle, Hughie Tim Boyle, to his tailors shop and according to Hughie Tim, Charlie was the only man who could make a suit for him. In the shop, Clr O'Dochartaigh said the pair talked for hours and hours about football. Clr Pearse Doherty said he wanted to be associated with the comments which had been made and sympathised with the family and friends of the late Mr Campbell, and added, had a deep personal friendship with the deceased. Clr Blaney offered his sympathies and added that his father, Harry, had served with Charlie Campbell during his time on the Council. Council Chairman, Clr Dessie Larkin, said it was obvious that Clr Bonner was a very good friend of the late Charlie Campbell and described him as being Clr Bonner's political soul mate. "I know his son, Neil and he was a fine goalkeeper himself and is also a gentleman - he was cut from the same wool as his father. On behalf of the Council I pass on the condolences to his family and to the community of Dungloe," Clr Larkin added. County Manager, Michael McLoone, said that he had looked at the Council records earlier and found that he late Mr Campbell represented the Glenties Areas with Sean O'Cinneadie, Cormac Breslin, Padraig McGill, Louis Walsh and Charlie Green. Mr McLoone remembered meeting him in the mid sixties. "I want to endorse everything that was said about him. He was an absolute gentleman," he said, extending his sympathy to his son, Neil and daughters Noreen and Patricia and their families. Mr McLoone said he was moved by the tribute paid to the former councillor by Clr Bonner, adding that it was nice for someone from the sporting field and someone who served on the Council to have earned such a fine tribute. A minute's silence in memory of Mr Campbell was then observed. The late Mr Campbell was laid to rest yesterday following 11am mass at St Crone's Church, Dungloe. He is survived by his daughters Noreen O'Donnell, Burtonport, and Patricia Ward, Littlebridge, son Neil, Letterkenny, grandchildren and a wide circle of family and friends. Courtesy of Donegal Democrat 16 February 2006 Tweet

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