The death has been announced of Donal Gallagher, a trailblazing Irishman in New York, a respected Donegal New York GAA club leader and a champion of Irish business abroad.
Mr Gallagher, a native of Killybegs, passed away on Saturday 10th December aged 78.
Throughout his life, he has supported Irish emigrants who moved Stateside, advanced the local GAA community, organised local festivals and promoted Irish businesses.
A resident of East Durham, Donal was “Donegal through and through”, said a tribute from Donegal GFC New York. Donal guided Donegal to several New York senior championships.
“The amount of players that made their way from Ireland and further afield was amazing. When Donal brought you to play for Donegal he made you feel at home,” the club said.
Donal managed Donegal New York to six senior championships in three different decades from the 1980s to the 2000s.
Gallagher was also a leading figure in the success of the East Durham Irish Festival. The exciting week of music, song, dance, and crafts has been running for 45 years, taking place on Memorial Day Weekend at the end of May. He was heavily involved in many cultural projects, including the establishment of the East Durham Irish Cultural & Sports Centre, which later became the MJQ Irish Cultural & Sports Centre. Gallagher was both president and executive director of the centre in the years gone by.
Among his cultural achievements were the creation of a football pitch in New York the same regulation size as the one in Croke Park, the development of the world’s largest walking map of Ireland, the acquisition of a Donegal thatched cottage that was shipped over from Donegal and the dedication of a 9-11 Memorial, all of which has enhanced the Irish Festival grounds.
Donal and his wife Kitty Kelly are synonymous with Irish products, having set up the ‘Guaranteed Irish’, America’s largest Irish import store, 42 years ago. The business has expanded to two additional stores in the Bronx and Windham.
Gallagher was an honoree of this year’s East Durham Irish Festival in New York and was previously awarded the Campbell-Houlihan award by the Donegal Gaelic Football Club New York in 2020.
The Donegal GFC NY Club said: “There will be many’s a story told over the next few days. He will be listening to them and breaking into that great smile. May you Rest In Peace Donal. You have earned your rest. RIP.
“When we get the details for Donal’s wake and funeral we will let you know. But for now keep Kitty, his brothers and sisters in your prayers.”
