The late Donna Ferguson It was with widespread shock and deep sadness that the village of Belleek and the surrounding communities and indeed, counties, learned of the sudden and tragic death of Donna Ferguson. The well known and extremely popular broadcast journalist had a larger then life personality that now leaves a void within her close knit family, her wide circle of friends, and the community at large. Donna lived at her home in Daly Park with parents, Mary and Gerry and her three younger siblings, Serena, Paul and Sean. She was 24, yet in her short life, she had managed to pack in and accomplish so much. Above all, Donna was a devoted daughter and sister, whose family-orientated nature meant she was loving, supportive and protective, a person who made family life a priority. Donna was also a friend to all who knew her. She had an infectious personality that radiated a smile at all times. She was bubbly, bright, and intelligent, and exuded beauty inside and out. Donna was also confident, ambitious and hard working, and such energy and enthusiasm was successfully rewarded in what she justly achieved in her short life. Born in March 1982, she later attended St Davog's Primary School, Belleek, before moving on to St Mary's High School, Brollagh. From a young age, her love for GAA was evident and she soon started playing for her club, Erne Gaels, a sporting career that was to later span to school, university and county level. It was at St. Mary's that Donna pursued her passions and excelled as an award-winning student. After completing her GCSE's, she studied A-level English, Media and Art. She progressed in sport, learned to play camogie and developed her skills and an accomplished gaelic footballer. It was at Brollagh that Donna, largely under the influence of her teacher Garvan Gallagher, acquired an interest in the media, and it was here, the seeds of her future journalistic career were to be first sown. In 1998, she won the Fermanagh heat of a public speaking competition, and went on to take first place in the Northern Ireland Soroptimist International Speaking final. In 1999, she participated in the Spirit of Enniskillen, a cross-community project that saw her travel to Boston for two weeks. From Brollagh, Donna embarked on a three-year degree in Screen Studies at John Moores University, Liverpool, and in 2003 was successfully awarded her BA (Hons) degree. During her course, she worked as a producer and director on RTE's 'Off the Rails' show. While in Liverpool, the Erne Gales lady pursued her gaelic interests and won a university All-Star in 2002. When not studying for college, Donna also worked part-time on match days in the famous soccer grounds of Anfield. On returning home from university, Donna began working as part of the Q Network Radio News team, mainly in Omagh, and before long, was approached by Derry's Channel Nine Television Network where she compiled and presented the nine o'clock news for almost a year. From here, she moved to work for Ocean FM as a news journalist before deciding to take a year out to travel. While at Ocean FM, Donna worked as a news and sports reporter, duty editor, producer, and presenter. She was the presenter and producer of her own weekly programme, 'Ocean Catch' as well as the Health and Beauty show. In 2002, she was crowned Lady of Erne, and in subsequent years, she went on to host the Lady of the Erne heats. Bitten by the travel bug in September 2005, Donna set off to discover the world, and when in Bali, one of her first destinations, she reported live on the Bali bombings for RTE news. She spent a lot of time in Sydney, where she took up a broadcasting course, before finally travelling to Thailand, and returning home to Belleek. While in Sydney she started her own camogie team and played gaelic football. Such was her enjoyment for life that the type of projects she organised and hosted extended throughout her travels, one such venture including the 'Irish Bachelor of the Year' in Sydney. On returning home in September 2006, Donna embarked on a MA course in journalism in NUI, Galway. Always on top of her studies, in the short time she was there she also managed to join the university football team, and started up and became the editor of a magazine, 'Stir'. Such was her enthusiasm and journalistic drive for this project that she managed to track down Hollywood legend Martin Sheen, a mature student at the university, for a photo and interview. Since her death, Mr Sheen had paid tribute to Donna in a university lecture in Galway describing her as 'bubbly and enthusiastic'. The university observed a minute's silence in her memory. Donna was bitten by the 'journalism worm' and, during what was a period of study leave, had returned to work professionally for Q101 in Omagh. It was in travelling to work on her second day back, that Donna was tragically departed this world. Her unexpected death has since evoked a genuine sadness and loss throughout the community and beyond, something that was apparent in the huge crowds that attended the wake and her funeral Mass. The Mass was celebrated in St. Patrick's Church, Belleek, by Fr Tiernach Beggan, PP., and was con-celebrated by Fr Adrian Walsh and and Fr Joe McVeigh, a family friend who provided a touching homily. A guard of honour was observed by Erne Gaels, St. Mary's High School and NUI, Galway. Donna's life was represented in several symbols. Her coffin was draped in her much loved club jersey, and at the altar, a camogie stick, a football, a Sydney club jersey, an individual and family photo, a journalism study book, her Soroptimist award, and a copy of her university magazine, 'Stir' were placed. Special Masses were arranged in her memory in Galway, and also in Sydney, organised by Clan na Gael and Cormac McAnallen GAA Clubs, this Mass being attended by every gaelic club in Sydney. Mass goers there were asked, if so desired, to wear their club or county colours as a show of solidarity for Donna's amazing contribution to the Irish community and gaelic games in such a short period. Donna had played ladies football with Clan na Gael GFC and camogie with Cormac McAnallen's GFC in Sydney. Donna is survived by her parents, Mary and Gerry, her sister Serena, her brothers, Paul and Sean, her grand-mother Josephine McCafferty, her uncles, aunts, and cousins, and a much wider circle of family and friends. Her funeral arrangements were carried out by Patsy McCauley, Belleek. Courtesy of The Fermanagh Herald 13 December 2006 It was with great sadness that the news of the tragic and untimely death of one of journalism's brightest stars, Donna Ferguson. Donna was a 24-year-old with everything to live for and a very bright future ahead of her. The eldest daughter of Gerry and Mary (nee McCafferty) Ferguson of Daly Park, Belleek, Donna was best friends and a much loved sister to Serena, Paul and Sean. Known across Fermanagh, Donegal and Derry for her first rate reporting and professional journalism, Donna was on her way to a new job in the Q101 radio network in Omagh when her green Peugeot 206 car collided with a truck and van on the Shore Road near Kesh, Co Fermanagh. She died at the scene. Donegal people will know Donna best as a news anchor for Ocean FM radio. Over a year ago, Donna left her post as a broadcaster to fulfil a life's ambition to travel, an adventure that took her to south east Asia and Australia. Even while travelling, the roving reporter filed news copy in the aftermath of the Bali Bombing for RTE and other Irish broadcast stations. In fact, in the days just after the Bali explosion Donna became the main point of contact for many of the news stations at home. Bali was not Donna's only lucky escape on her travels. Just days before she was due to fly home Donna and some other passengers on a bus found themselves in a potentially dangerous hostage situation, however, luck on that occasion was on Donna's side. She had recently come home from her travels to take up a post graduate course in journalism at NUI Galway. She had also taken up a new job with the Q network. Democrat reporter, Alan Foley studied on the same course and shared digs with Donna in Galway. He said the fact Donna was studying a Masters degree in Galway and took on a new job in Co Tyrone was typical of the person he knew and loved. "That says it all,"Alan told the Democrat, "She has only been at this university since September but in that time she set up a college magazine and got involved straight away with the football, camogie and soccer teams. The second copy of 'Stir' was due out. In fact, Donna was going to Letterkenny after she finished her shift in Omagh to pick up the magazine from the printers and bring it back to college, which is also typical of her energy. We got the magazine out against all odds because we know that is what she would have done. "At times like these people tend to use a lot of cliches but I am loathe to do that because Donna was anything but, "he added, "She was the type of person who would go to bed at night and not be able to sleep because she would be thinking of what ways she could take over the world tomorrow. In her weekends, Donna would go to the radio stations in Belfast and Dublin trying to arrange work placements or going to see the printers in Longford. "I can honestly say that Donna Ferguson lived every single day of her life to the full," Alan said, "People who met Donna said they felt like they knew her years. She was bubbly, vivacious, popular, warm, a great friend and fantastic person to be around." Indeed, Donna's cv reads like that of someone 20 years her senior. Shortly after graduating from university in Liverpool, she took up employment with the Q network before moving onto television at Channel Nine in Derry and then with the newly-founded Ocean FM. Previously, she had won the North of Ireland Soroptomist International Public Speaking award and All-Ireland Lady of Erne title. Her sporting achievements included a GAA Gaelic All-Star Award, representing Fermanagh in the All-Ireland olympics, playing for the Erne Gaels and Fermanagh teams, and recording the fastest female lap time in Formula 3 racing at Mondello Park. People have described a tangible sense of shock and grief in both communities along the Fermanagh and Donegal border and in Donna's hometown of Belleek. Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA, Tommy Gallagher from Belleek taught Donna and was later subject to many of her radio interviews. He praised Donna as a journalist and described her personality as "enthusiastic". "I knew Donna for many years," Mr Gallagher said, "She was completely dedicated to her field of work and was enthusiastic about everything she did. I found her to be affable and friendly but very professional and I think other people would say the same about Donna". Bundoran Town Councillor and native of Belleek, Mick McMahon said his sympathies go out to Donna's family at this difficult time. "Donna was a lovely girl and her parents must be so proud of her achievements. On behalf of all at Bundoran Town Council and the GAA here I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Gerry and Mary B". Courtesy of The Donegal Democrat 7th December 2006 Tweet

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