Born near Dunkerrin in an Ireland still struggling for its freedom, Johnny McDonnell was to begin a life that was to straddle a variety of enterprising activities as well as making long and lasting friendships. Opportunities in this country at that time were very different and many like Johnny had to test the waters of hard laborious work with little time off and plenty of hardship. Leaving Clashagad and moving to live in Rathmoyle, Toomevara, the young McDonnell left national school to work with local farmers. There were no tractors or milking machines then. Johnny came to live with his aunt Bridget Maher in Shanakil. During the war years he found employment in Cody's Sawmills driving a lorry and drawing timber from as far away as Scariff. It was here that his great love for the GAA began. His subsequent attachment to Eire Og Templemore could not belittle the fact that he lined out with Clonakenny in the Junior Final in 1948. Loosing to New Tipperary Rangers (Thurles) by a single point in torrential rain did not dim his abiding desire to follow this great organisation to the very last. Johnny was a frequent visitor to his aunt Mrs Johanna Guidera in Church Street Templemore and it was a great house for cuartaoicht. It was here that he met his wife Johanna. Johnny was not to know that when he worked on the construction of the water plant at Lloydsboro that he was sow in the seeds of another great love. He became the third generation of his family following in the footsteps of his father Tom and grandfather Paddy McDonnell to work on the reservoir. So began a phase of employment with Templemore UDC which was to span 34 years making sure that the reservoir in Killea, the water plant at Lloydsboro, sewerage treatment system at Railway Road met the need of that time. He loved his work and was known to visit the UDC offices regularly after retirement. Specialist in fixing water pumps, leaking pipes, fitting running water and bathroom systems were a rarity and Johnny found himself as Mr Fixer, and making many friends stepping into the breach - and doing the good turn. The turn-out of representatives from the Fire Service was ample testimony of the esteem and affection in which Johnny was held by his comrades. For over 25 years he made himself available to his great movement. Stan, Paddy and the two Michaels lived on the same road. All five rushed to the call of the bells and later the buzzers. The fire service for Johnny was a story of friendship, loyalty and comradeship, loyalty and comradeship. The challenge for supremacy between the fire services and the GAA could not be measured. He loved them both. It was not unusual for Johnny to attend as many as three or four games on any one Sunday; he was the proud recipient of the Sean Gail award last year. He enjoyed watching his two grandsons Padhraic and Eoin don the Clonakenny jersey. Passionate about his politics and Fianna Fail, Johnny attended meetings in the early days with the late Bill Smith before becoming a loyal supporter of Michael Smith. The Fianna Fail guard of honour at the church was in respect of this unquestionable loyalty. It was, however in the fruits of his garden that even the not so young McDonnell would put most people to shame. Coming from a tradition of self sufficiency in vegetables, he saw to it that there was plenty for the table. He was later to add to his tireless work by adorning the place with rosebushes and other plants. His love of the bog - the saving of the turf in Fogarty's bog and the chats he loved with the people he met there during the summer months. There was still a further step in the ladder of self-worth in Johnny's life. A life long pioneer and a member of the pioneer council for 30 years, he was the proud recipient of the Fr Cullen medal just over a year ago for the service he gave to the organisation. The people of Templemore and the wider hinterland say goodbye to their stalwart and pray that he will receive an even higher award in his eternal abode. May he rest in peace. Courtesy of the Tipperary Star October 2007 Tweet

Most Read Stories