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Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Funeral of former Roscommon footballer Don Connellan heard he valued loyalty more than anything in sport, work and life
Large crowds, including several members of An Garda Síochána, bid farewell to Mr Connellan at his funeral in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Moycullen. The former garda was widely mourned in his native Roscommon and his adopted home of Moycullen when he passed away suddenly earlier this week. His funeral Mass heard that Mr Connellan had been on a fishing trip with his sons the day before he died. The 51-year-old had been battling an illness which forced him to step down as manager of the Moycullen GAA senior team after a successful six-year stint which saw the club win two senior county titles and a Connacht senior title. Before settling in Moycullen 20 years ago, Mr Connellan enjoyed a decorated football career with Roscommon. Lining out mainly at midfield, he represented the county at every age grade and was part of the team that captured a Connacht title in 2001. He also won a Sigerson Cup with UCG in 1992 and was involved with NUI Galway's 2022 Sigerson Cup team. He was also a revered figure with his native club, Kilmore GAA, representing them in three senior county finals. His brother-in-law, Paul Clancy, described him as 'a great man' and paid tribute to the qualities he displayed as a father, a husband, a manager, a footballer and a garda throughout his life. 'Throughout the multiple stories and conversations we've shared in the last few days and hours about Don, 'loyalty' has been the constant and most used value that has come up,' said the former Galway footballer, who managed the Moycullen senior team alongside Mr Connellan. 'Don valued loyalty more than anything, in sport and in work and in life. His colleagues here today from the gardaí will attest that he didn't suffer fools, and they had to earn his loyalty back, and it was often slow and it could be an arduous process. Once you did though, you were rewarded with a man who would do anything for you in return. 'When things were at their worst, colleagues would surmise, 'What will we do? Ring Don. He will know what to do.' As a footballer, Mr Connellan was remembered as someone who led by example and demanded high standards of his colleagues. His brother-in-law described him as 'a true exponent' of high fielding who could kick frees and score from play with a 'sweet right boot'. 'His athleticism and physicality were that of a warrior, and I was on the receiving end of it a few times myself,' remarked Mr Clancy. He described his relationship with his wife, Linda, as one of 'humour, loyalty and love'. 'The pictures of Don, Linda and the boys in Drumaveg say it all. For a man who never smiled in any GAA photo, these photos show a man at his happiest,' he said. 'Linda, he loved you with all his heart. He was a devoted husband, and you were his rock.' A family photo, a prayer book, a football, his Kilmore jersey, his garda badge, a golf club and a fishing tackle box were brought forward as symbols of his life during his funeral Mass. The family photo symbolised his love for his wife Linda and sons Eoin and Conor, who were 'his world' and 'his greatest pride and joy'. Comparing them to their sons, Mr Connellan's brother-in-law, Paul Clancy, described them as: 'Polite, handsome, tall, athletic, witty and sensitive. They are young men who will carry their father's courage and strength into their lives. The values these boys got from Don will serve them well and give them strength when obstacles arrive. 'The fish they caught on the lake last Sunday together were, perhaps, metaphors for their lives: be patient, be brave, go after something if you want it,' he added. Mr Clancy concluded by saying that Roscommon and Galway were 'united as one in honouring a fallen hero'. Quoting from the song 'The West's Awake, he said: ''Alas and well, may Éireann weep, for Connacht lies in slumber deep'. Goodbye Don, and God bless. Go ndéana Dia trocaire ar a anam.' The prayer book symbolised his deep Christian faith, which was described as 'a quiet but steady presence in his life'. 'His belief gave him strength and guided him through both joyful and difficult times,' said his sister-in-law, Johanna Clancy. The football and Kilmore jersey represented lifelong dedication to the GAA while his garda badge symbolised a 'long and dedicated career in An Garda Síochána'. The funeral heard that Mr Connellan served with 'integrity, compassion and commitment, earning the deep respect and friendship of his colleagues in the force'. The golf club symbolised a new hobby he had taken up during his illness while the fishing tackle box represented a fishing trip he enjoyed with his sons the day before he died. Fr Martin Whelan, Parish Priest of Moycullen, cited the lyrics of David Bowie's song 'Heroes' in paying tribute to Mr Connellan, describing him as 'our hero'. 'I firmly believe that the greatest task of any father, coach, friend or brother, is to instil courage. It is one thing to be brave, to be courageous, it is quite another thing to encourage, to make heroes, to convince people,' said Fr Whelan, before uttering the Latin expression 'noli timere', meaning 'do not be afraid'. Predeceased by his father Donal, Don Connellan is survived by his wife Linda and their two sons, Eoin and Conor, his mother Ellen (Nellie), brothers Adrian and David and extended family. His coffin was draped in the Irish tricolour before he was laid to rest in the new graveyard in Moycullen.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Funeral details announced for former Roscommon footballer Don Connellan
The 51-year-old father-of-two passed away suddenly on Monday following an illness. His passing has been greeted with shock and sadness throughout Galway and Roscommon. The former garda will repose at his home in Drumaveg, Moycullen, County Galway on Wednesday, August 6, from 4 pm to 8 pm. His requiem Mass will take place on Thursday August 7tat 12 noon to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Moycullen. He will be laid to rest immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Predeceased by his father Donal, Don Connellan is survived by his wife Linda and their two sons, Eoin and Conor. He is also sadly missed by his mother Ellen (Nellie), brothers Adrian and David; mother-in-law Mary Clancy; his sisters-in-law Jacinta, Catherine, Ailish, Johanna, Laura, and brothers-in-law Paul, Gearoid and Gareth; his nieces and nephews Rachael, Cathal, Lilly, Jamie, Lily, Luke, Ellen, Finn, Mason and Cooper; aunts and uncles, cousins, the extended Connellan and Clancy families; his colleagues and friends in An Garda Siochana and the GAA community in Kilmore, Roscommon, Moycullen and Galway. Moycullen GAA and Kilmore GAA have paid glowing tributes to Mr Connellan, who played with the Roscommon senior team throughout the 1990s and won a Connacht title with them in 2001. His home club, Kilmore GAA. described him as 'an exceptional person' who 'who lived his life with the utmost integrity'. As well as enjoying a lengthy career with Roscommon at every age grade, Mr Connellan featured in three Roscommon senior county finals for his club. After moving to Moycullen, he spent six seasons in charge of the Moycullen GAA's senior team, guiding them to an All-Ireland club semi-final in 2022 before stepping down in 2023 due to health difficulties.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
GAA community saddened by tragic death of former inter-county footballer, 51, as tributes pour in
'GREAT FRIEND' GAA community saddened by tragic death of former inter-county footballer, 51, as tributes pour in THE GAA community are in mourning as Roscommon legend Don Connellan has passed away aged 51. Connellan donned the primrose and blue jersey of Roscommon for many years whilst working as a guard. 3 Connellan was a staple of the Roscommon team in the 1990s and early 2000s 3 The Moycullen manager was a very successful player and coach 3 He was one of Roscommon's most skilful and graceful players of the 90s He made his debut in 1993 for the Rossies in a 1–12 to 1–10 victory over Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon in the Connacht semi-final. The Kilmore native played a key role in Roscommon's Connacht title victory in 2001 as they defeated Mayo 2-10 to 1-12 in the final to win the Rossies' 20th title. Connellan also reached the county senior Championship final on three occasions in 1998, 1999 and 2001 with his club Kilmore GAA. Following the end of his playing career, Donnellan took up management. Don moved to Galway and took up a management role with Moycullen GAA. In his tenure with the club they won two Galway senior Championships and were also crowned Connacht champions in 2022. He also joint-managed University of Galway to Sigerson Cup glory in 2021, having won it as a player himself in 1992 with UCG. Moycullen GAA payed a touching tribute to their former manager who made history with the club, leading them to their first Galway senior football Championship win in 2020 and a second in 2022. They released a statement saying: "It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of our great friend Don Connellan. "Don was involved with our Senior team as a Selector and then a Manager over the course of 7 years. TJ Reid and wife Niamh de Brun's gorgeous pregnancy reveal "During his tenure as manager Don led us to a historic first County Final in 2020, in 2022 we won the County and Connacht Tiles before a narrow loss in the All Ireland Semi Final. "Under his guidance, he brought the team to the Country Final again in 2023 before stepping aside to concentrate on health issues. "While the achievements and titles are widely recognised and remarkable for our club, it is the unseen and unselfish work that we will also remember. "The nights at training, the countless phone calls and messages, organising players, pitches, matches, physios, etc, but Don went beyond that. "He had a remarkable ability to manage a group while also looking after the individual. He took great satisfaction in seeing a youngster breaking through and was always on hand to support and guide. "Don wasn't for the limelight, but behind it, he was all in, on and off the pitch, an excellent manager and coach who was fiercely loyal to his team, his friends, his club, a great competitor; he simply loved the game. "Leading a group of ambitious players has its challenges. Don had the skillset to navigate whatever came his way in his own quiet manner. "A native of Kilmore in County Roscommon, Don excelled at football for both Club and County. Maigh Cuilinn was home for many years with Linda and the boys – Eoin & Conor. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them and the wider Clancy & Connellan Families. He loved his football, but his family was his world. Rest easy Don, you will be missed."
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Galway's Moycullen GAA mourn passing of 'fiercely loyal' managerial legend
Moycullen GAA have paid tribute to the man who led them to their first ever county senior title, after his tragic passing. Former Roscommon Connacht Championship winner Don Connellan, who guided the Galway club to the 2022 county and provincial titles, passed away yesterday aged just 51. During a seven year spell as selector and manager Connellan - a Garda - had previously helped them to their first ever senior decider in 2020. Connellan brought Moycullen - Galway captain Sean Kelly's club - back to the County Final in 2023 before stepping aside due to health issues. He also helped NUI Galway to a Sigerson Cup title in 2021, alongside former Mayo player Maurice Sheridan. At club level, Connellan was a key player on the Kilmore teams that reached county Roscommon Senior Finals in 1998 and 2001, while he won a Sigerson Cup medal with University College Galway in 1992 as a player. In a statement the Moycullen club hailed a man 'who loved his football, but his family was his world.' They also praised Connellan as a man who shunned the limelight but was 'fiercely loyal' and 'a great competitor.' The Moycullen statement read: 'It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of our great friend Don Connellan. 'While the achievements and titles are widely recognised and remarkable for our club, it is the unseen and unselfish work that we will also remember. 'The nights at training. The countless phone calls and messages - organising players, pitches, matches, physios, etc, but Don went beyond that. 'He had a remarkable ability to manage a group while also looking after the individual. 'He took great satisfaction in seeing a youngster breaking through and was always on hand to support and guide. 'Never a man to give the media a soundbite, he avoided reporters like they were opponents on the field. 'Unassuming to the last, the odd shift change at work to accommodate training would not be mentioned. 'Asking Don to say a few words at clubhouse celebrations after a County Final win would be met with a glare and then delivering exactly what was asked for, 'a few words', nothing more. 'Don wasn't for the limelight, but behind it he was all in - on and off the pitch - an excellent manager and coach who was fiercely loyal to his team, his friends, his club, a great competitor. He simply loved the game. 'Leading a group of ambitious players has its challenges. Don had the skillset to navigate whatever came his way in his own quiet manner. 'Away from the seniors, he would frequently offer support and guidance to the upcoming teams and players. 'Away from the football, Don was a family man to the core, he liked nothing more than his time with Linda and the boys, and took great enjoyment seeing them play. 'A native of Kilmore in County Roscommon, Don excelled at football for both club and county. Maigh Cuilinn was home for many years with Linda and the boys, Eoin and Conor. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with them and the wider Clancy and Connellan Families. 'He loved his football, but his family was his world. Rest easy Don. You will be missed.'
