The Late Donal Regan Huge crowds attended the funeral of the former top greyhound trainer, Donal Regan who died suddenly at his home in Banemore, Kilmoyley, on the 17th February 2008. Born in September 1942, he lived his entire life in his beloved Banemore. His parents were Dan Regan, Banemore and Nora Dowling, Brandonwell, Ardlert. Donal had one sister, Helen now deceased and one brother, John who resides in Ballyheigue. Donal had a wonderful, charismatic personality as was evident in the large numbers that attended his removal from Gleasure's Funeral Home, Tralee, on Tuesday, I 9th of February and at the funeral mass at Kilmoyley Church and burial in the adjoining cemetery on Wednesday. Guards of honour formed by the National Ploughing Association and Kilmoyley Hurling Club paid tribute to Donal at Kilmoyley Church on Tuesday evening. Symbols of his membership in the organisation were displayed during mass as was the trophy presented Joyful Tiding in the final of the Derby. Tributes were kindly printed in the Kerry's Eye, Irish Examiner and The Kerryman newspapers. There was a minute's silence at the Kerry hurling match on February 17th. John Ward, general manager at the Kingdom Racing Stadium, paid tribute to Donal in a speech at the stadium the following week. The family are very grateful to all those who paid tribute to Donal. Donal loved sport. He started off as a hurler of note, being a no-nonsense half back and membcr of the three-in-a-row Kilmoyley County Championship side of 1962-64. Donal was back in 1970 to win his fourth Senior medal when he was a sub on the Kilmoyley team that defeated Killamey. He then played from the start in 1971 when they beat Abbeydomey to make it five County Senior medals. He was an expert ploughman as well and won the All-Ireland U-21 Ploughing Championship in 1963 and was the winner of the machine thrashed, cleanest sample barley competition in 1966 presented by Latchford's. Perhaps Donal's greatest passion in sport was always going to be greyhounds as his father kept dogs at home and his wife Noreen is also a fan of the 'long tails'. Having trained privately, Donal took out a full trainer's license in the early '80's. He won the Harp Lager - which was also the higgest open race in Tralee at the time, ran during the Rose of Tralee - with Ballyheigue Moon, Bonnies Son and Spargo. He then went on to win the Guinness Trophy in Cork twice with Yellow Bud and Glinvara Red. He also won the Laurels at Cork in 1987 and captured the Munster Oaks in Waterford with Arden Slippy but the high point in his training career came in 1994 when he trained Joyful Tidings for Michael Carmody from Tarbert to capture the Irish Derby at Shelboume Park. Donal won countless sweeps in Tralee and all over Munster and had few peers when it came to producing a dog to win a final. In 2000, as he was about to retire and hand over the reins to his son Padraig, who had supported Donal since he was old enough to walk a greyhound, he won the Champion Stakes in Clonmel with Snipefield Glory to conclude a wonderful career. Family was of enormous importance to Donal. He married Noreen Lynch, Ballyheigue, on July 16th, 1966, and they shared a lifelong interest in greyhounds. Donal was a loving father to his six children, Dominick, Norma, Padraig, Debra, Johnny and Carole and he cared deeply about his daughters-in-law Liz, Eileen and Bronwyn and his sons-in-law Nicholas and Tom, his brother John, sister Helen and extended family. Donal had a terrific rapport with all children especially his grandchildren Jonathon, Kieran, Natasha, Miriam, Sean, Domhnall, John Nicholas, Ria and Dominick - all of whom he adored. He recounted humorous tales of their activities at every opportunity. He had a keen interest in family heritage and took pride in teaching his children about all those who were related to them. Donal tooh a keen interest in all people, especially his neighbours in Banemore of whom he was very proud. He acccpted the individuality of all those he met both within and outside his own family. Finally, Donal will be remembered by his family and friends as a man who lived his life close to nature. He tilled the land, worked with animals and had an interest in flowers all his life. Friends and work colleagues of his eldest son Dominick - who lives in San Francisco with his wife Bronwyn - raised money to plant 75 trees in his memory in the Gallatin National Forest near Yellowstone National Park and the trees will be a living monument to Donal's memory. He will also be remembered for his larger than life personality, his wit and his many humorous sayings. He brought love, life and laughter to all those whose lives he touched. He died as he lived, everyone's friend. 'The palm tree's wave on high all along the fertile shore Adieau the hills of Kerry I ne'er will see no more Oh why did I leave my home? Oh why did I cross the sea? And leave the small birds singing around you sweet Tralee?' 'The Hills of Kerry' (Donal's favourite song) Courtesy of the Kerry's Eye 27 March 2008 Tweet

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