Donnelly, Gerry
January 19, 2012
The death, which took place peacefully in the Southern Area Hospice in Newry on Saturday January 7 of Coa-born Gerry Donnelly (60) evoked widespread genuine shock and sadness.
He was the husband of Patricia (nee Breen, Trillick) and father of Killian, Helen and Conor. The family resided at Upper Damolly Road, Newry.
The deceased is further survived by his sister, Angela and his brothers, John, Brendan, Colm and Kevin. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Francie and Nellie and by his brother, Paddy over 10 years ago. Paddy was for many years the secretary of the Fermanagh County Board, GAA.
Like his brothers, Gerry was a keen GAA player, administrator and supporter. Prior to the Fermanagh/Antrim Dr McKenna Cup game, a minute's silence was observed in his memory and was followed by spontaneous applause.
A poignant aspect of this public acknowledgement was the fact that Gerry's nephew, Eoin, Brendan's son, was making his debut for Fermanagh.
After attending Coa Primary School and St Michael's College, Gerry secured a BA degree at Queen's University, Belfast and went straight into employment in 1974 with the Department of Agriculture. In his role as advisory officer, he was highly regarded within Omagh division, which took in part of Fermanagh.
In 1978 he married Patricia and, two years later, they moved to Newry where Gerry had moved to take up an appointment.
Before then, he had left his mark as a player with Coa GFC, and Trillick. His playing career with Coa began i 1968 and he was a member of the team that won the Intermediate League in 1971. The following year; they reached the senior championship semi-final and, on that team, were four of the Donnelly brothers, Gerry, John, Brendan and Colm.
He was an excellent footballer and in 1975 and '76 he played at midfield with Brendan on the Coa teams that reached the Intermediate League final, being beaten each time by Maguiresbridge.
In 1978, Gerry transferred to Trillick and in 1980 won a Tyrone senior championship medal. However, by the time he moved to Newry and joined Newry Shamrocks, he had hung up his boots and, instead, was now a club administrator. He was still a member at the time of his death.
He had enjoyed excellent health up until he became ill just a month before he died.
Outside of family, work and the GAA, Gerry maintained a keen interest in farming and enjoyed revisiting the family farm in Coa which is now run by his brother, Brendan. And, he enjoyed golf.
The largely-attended funeral mass at noon took place in Saint Patrick and Saint Colman's Cathedral in Newry. The burial was at Monkshill Cemetery.
At the family's request, donations in lieu of flowers were directed to the Southern Area Hospice.
- Courtesy of Ulster Herald, 19th January 2012
Most Read Stories