The 22-year old Neale footballer who was killed in an accident in Qatar on Friday, November 22, has been laid to rest in his local cemetery. Darragh Walsh from The Neale was a quantity surveyor and had moved to Doha in Qatar to work with an Irish company. He was just two weeks in Doha when tragedy struck.
Initial reports suggested Darragh had been involved in a car accident involving a taxi and a number of other vehicles in the Middle Eastern City. It has since emerged, however, that he was not part of this accident. The Western People understands Darragh was walking along the side of the road a short distance from where the accident occurred when he was knocked down by a suspected drink driver.
Darragh's passport was found in his back pocket, assisting police in identifying his body. Coming from a family steeped in GAA - his father Gerry is the current chairman of The Neale GAA Club - Darragh was an exceptionally talented footballer and a member of The Neale team that won the Mayo Junior Championship title last year.
He was also named Junior Footballer of the Year in The Neale in 2010. Darragh studied at IT Sligo, receiving a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying in 2012.
He was hugely popular both in Sligo and at home in The Neale. He had spent some time working in London, before transferring to Qatar just two weeks before his death. The president of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott, paid tribute to the young man.
"Everyone at IT Sligo who knew Darragh is immensely saddened about his untimely and tragic death. Darragh was an undergraduate here from 2008 until 2012 when he received his BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying.
"He was hugely popular among staff and students alike, a willing friend and a successful student and I join with all his former colleagues on the campus and the staff of the Institute in sending my sincere condolences to Darragh's family."
Darragh's body was repatriated to Ireland on Friday morning and his remains reposed at Cummins' Funeral Home in Ballinrobe on Saturday evening. He was laid to rest in The Neale Cemetery yesterday (Sunday) following Requiem Mass in St John's Church.
Darragh is mourned by his parents Gerry and Miriam, brothers Shane and Padraic, and sisters Ciara and Sheila, family, neighbours and friends.

Western People, 2nd December 2013 Tweet

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