McDonnell, Daniel
February 14, 2009Danny McDonnell (63) who died on January 27 after a brief illness in St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, was born in Thurles and baptised in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles.
Danny, son of the late Daniel and Ellen (Nelly) McDonnell of St. Begnet's Villas, Dalkey, the original port of Dublin, was proud of his Thurles roots and loved visiting Semple Stadium. He would have been so thrilled to have seen the new floodlights at the famous stadium.
He himself played hurling and Gaelic Football in Dalkey as a youngster.
His other great sporting love was soccer and he was a devoted Manchester United fan since before 1958, the year of the Munich Air Crash which claimed the lives of the legendary Busby Babes. And soon before he died Danny was told of a great United 2-1 FA Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur. This was 100 years after Man U. won their very first FA Cup trophy.
Danny, who possessed a great sense of humour, also enjoyed boxing and wrestling. He was a truly excellent swimmer who regularly and effortlessly swam the few miles from the famous Forty Foot bathing place in Sandycove, Co. Dublin to the lovely and historic Dalkey Island. He also loved boating and fishing with his father off the coast of Killiney, where his father was born. As one born in Thurles (as were his sisters, Mary and Breda), Danny was proud that Old Trafford was built with the help of Tipp man, the late Paddy Moore of Templetuohy. Paddy Moore used to relate how the great Duncan Edwards of "Busby's Babes" in the great United side of the 1950s (The David Beckham of the day), was deemed the richest man in the side, also as he was able to afford a bicycle to get to training in Old Trafford. How times have changed with the multi million pounds transfer deals of today!
A quiet, reserved, gentleman, Danny loved walking, whether in his beloved Dalkey with its breathtaking hilltop views of Dublin Bay ("Ireland's Bay of Naples") or in Barnane by the famous Devil's Bit" where he lived for a number of years as a child. Or in the area around Knocka, Drom, where his late aunt and uncle, Chris and Jack O'Dwyer lived.
Danny was an accomplished mechanic and worked in a garage in Dalkey for many years. He also worked in Bolands' Biscuits when they were situated in Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. In his latter years Danny lived in Ballybrack. His late wife, Anne, died ten years ago.
Danny's popularity was borne out by the large attendance at the Removal of the Remains from Patrick O'Donovan and Son Funeral Home, Sallynoggin to the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dalkey and at interment in Shanganagh Cemetery, Shankill.
Requiem Mass was celebrated by Rev Fr John O'Donovan, Dalkey.
Mass Readers were Danny's son, Darren, his brother-in-law, David Kearns, nieces Brid Ryan, Rahealty, Thurles; Deirdre Sheehan, Brackenbush Road, Killiney and nephew Noel Maher, City West, Dublin.
The gifts were brought to the altar by his sister, Mrs Ina Ryan, Rahealty and his brother, John Bray.
Chief mourners were Karen McDonnell, daughter; Darren, Paul and Simon McDonnell, sons; John McDonnell, brother; Ina Ryan, Rahealty; Breda Maher, Ballinteer, Dublin; Eileen Merrigan, Bray; Elizabeth (Lily) Sheehan, Brackenbush Road, Killiney and Mary O'Reilly, Ballybrack (sisters), Miriam McDonnell, Portmarnock, daughter in law; Tom Ryan, Rahealty, Michael Maher, Ballinteer, Jim Sheehan, Killiney; Patrick O'Reilly, Ballybrack; David Kearns, Sallynoggin, Dublin and Clive Kearns, Ballybrack (brothers in law), Edith McDonnell, Bray, Jean Kearns Moloney, Sandyford, Dublin and Jackie Kearns, Blackpool; sisters in law, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and other relatives and friends, who included great pals of Danny in Dalkey, Damien McGrane, Peter (Petie) Carroll and Pat Dawson.
Ar dheis De a anam ciuin, cinealta, May he rest in peace.
Danny's late father, Daniel McDonnell served as a chef in the Officers Mess with the 10th Uisneach Battalion during the Emergency of World War II in Templemore Barracks which is now the Garda College.
Danny's father Daniel Senior from Killiney met his wife Nellie Dingley, Barnane in Templemore. Danny Senior worked for many years with CIE.
- Tipperary Star, February 14th 2009 Tweet
