RIP: Longford GAA club mourns death of one of its greatest servants
Late John (Johnny) McDonnell, Carrickedmond, Colehill, Longford - A lifetime of devotion to Carrickedmond GAA
There are people who serve a GAA club, and then there are people whose lives become so deeply woven into its fabric that it is almost impossible to imagine the club without them. Carrickedmond’s beloved Club President, the late Johnny McDonnell, was undoubtedly one of those people.
For half a century, Johnny was one of the great pillars of Carrickedmond GAA. A former Chairperson, selector, executive member, tireless volunteer and fiercely loyal supporter, his contribution to the club was immeasurable.
Yet, for all the positions he held, it was perhaps the hundreds of little things he did, often without anyone noticing, that best defined the remarkable man he was.
Johnny was the very embodiment of what it means to be a GAA volunteer. No job was ever too big, too small or beneath him. Whether it was mowing the pitch, maintaining the tractor and mower, washing and hanging out jerseys, or attending to the endless maintenance jobs around the complex, Johnny was never found wanting.
For many years, he was effectively the club’s general maintenance man, turning his hand to everything from drainage and ducting work to machinery repairs and the upkeep of the grounds. He made sure the hedges were trimmed, the equipment was working and the facilities were looking their best.
Johnny took enormous personal pride in Michael Moran Park. Much of that work was done quietly, without fuss or fanfare. Indeed, in the early years, he even made the club’s first goal stoppers in the shed at his home, and they would stand for years afterwards. It was typical of his resourcefulness and willingness to do whatever was needed for Carrickedmond.
His formal involvement in the running of the club stretched right back to its reformation in 1976. Johnny was a member of the executive from those formative years and continued to give outstanding service well into the 2000s. Most notably, serving as Club Chairperson for three years, from 1995 to 1997.
He also greatly enjoyed the social side of club life, particularly the trips away that brought players, officials and supporters together. Among the many fond memories were the club trip to Galway in 1992 and the memorable journey to Donegal in 1996, during Johnny’s time as Chairperson.
But Johnny’s contribution was never confined to committee meetings or work around the grounds. He was a football man through and through, serving for many years as a selector with our senior, junior and underage teams. His knowledge of the game and guidance were greatly valued by those who worked alongside him.
As a selector, Johnny was determined that Carrickedmond would always field the strongest team possible. House visits to persuade lads to pull on the blue and gold again were all part of the job as far as Johnny was concerned.
Distance was no obstacle either. If a player was needed for an important game, Johnny would think nothing of driving the length of Ireland to collect him, bringing him back to play for Carrickedmond and then making the long journey to return him afterwards. That was the extraordinary commitment he brought to the role.
His enthusiasm for Gaelic football was contagious. Johnny didn’t just follow Carrickedmond; he lived and breathed Carrickedmond.
Few could match his passion on the sideline. He was a vocal, wholehearted and fiercely loyal supporter who kicked every ball and contested every decision from the other side of the white line. Johnny could criticise his own when he felt it was warranted, but God be with anyone from outside the parish who dared to say a bad word about a Carrickedmond player.
Indeed, Johnny was known the length and breadth of Longford, and well beyond the county boundaries, for his extraordinary passion for Carrickedmond. The sidelines will undoubtedly be a quieter place without that unmistakable voice.
His support extended far beyond match days. Johnny was an ever-present figure down at the complex, regularly standing along the wall watching training sessions, chatting with players and keeping himself informed about everything happening within the club. He had a genuine interest in how the lads were getting on and whether there was anything he could do to help them.
That caring nature was evident when players suffered injuries at matches. Johnny was often the man who would bring them to hospital, staying with them and ensuring they were looked after. It was never simply about the football with Johnny. The people who played it mattered every bit as much.
Older generations of Carrickedmond footballers will have their own treasured memories of Johnny and his late brother Peter McDonnell. Between them, the two brothers were renowned for filling their cars with players and supporters, travelling around the parish collecting lads and making sure everyone had a way to the match.
For some clubmen, it was Johnny who gave them their very first experience of Croke Park. Those journeys to Dublin, the excitement of the big occasion and the customary stop in Harry’s in Kinnegad on the way home became memories that have stayed with many of our members for a lifetime.
His passion for Gaelic football knew no bounds. A tremendous supporter of Longford GAA, he travelled the length and breadth of Ireland following the fortunes of his county and taking in matches wherever he could.
Johnny possessed an immense knowledge of Gaelic football, particularly the club scene in Longford. He knew the teams, the players and the personalities, and whoever he happened to meet, it was seldom long before the conversation turned to the GAA.
He was an avid reader of GAA books and at home would be glued to whatever match was on television, with The Sunday Game essential viewing. And, of course, there was his great love for Kerry football. Johnny had a particular admiration for the Kingdom and could spend hours dissecting their performances with the many friends he made over the years who shared that affection. He was, in every sense of the expression, a pure football man.
That extraordinary dedication to Carrickedmond became a family affair. When Johnny married Mairead Halligan from Ardagh, it wasn’t long before she too was immersed in the life of Carrickedmond GAA. Mairead’s own volunteerism knew no bounds, and she went on to give decades of outstanding service as a member of the club executive.
Together, Johnny and Mairead represented so much of what makes a rural GAA club special: the countless hours freely given, the friendships forged and the unwavering commitment to ensuring that the club would be there for future generations.
That same love for Carrickedmond was passed on to their daughters, Lorraine and Catherine, who share their parents’ tremendous passion for the club. Johnny’s loyalty, generosity and pride in Carrickedmond became values deeply instilled in those closest to him.
How fitting it was, then, that Johnny was able to share in some wonderful recent moments for his beloved club. After our recent Gilmore Cup success, when the victorious team gathered around Johnny and his car to celebrate with him, Johnny was absolutely chuffed. For a man who had given so much of his life to Carrickedmond, the affection and appreciation shown to him by another generation of players meant the world.
In recent weeks, another deeply touching moment came following Carrickedmond’s victory in the Junior B Football Championship.
Speaking after the final, winning captain Padraig McGrath dedicated the cup triumph to Johnny. Watching the celebrations live on Clubber from his home, Johnny was stunned and immensely proud to hear those words. It was a wonderful gesture and a fitting acknowledgement of the esteem in which he was held by the players.
For so many years, Johnny was simply always there. At the pitch, at training, at matches, at meetings, behind the scenes and whenever his club needed him. His presence was such a constant that it is difficult to comprehend that he will no longer be standing along that familiar wall, keeping a watchful eye on proceedings and enjoying the company of his fellow Carrickedmond people.
Our club has lost one of its greatest servants, one of its most passionate supporters and, above all, a truly wonderful clubman.
To his beloved wife Mairead, daughters Lorraine and Catherine, the extended McDonnell family, relatives and his many friends, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies.
Johnny gave a lifetime of service to Carrickedmond GAA, his name will always be synonymous with our club. We will forever be grateful for his service, his friendship, his kindness and the extraordinary love he had for our club.
The late John (Johnny) McDonnell, Carrickedmond, Colehill, Longford and late of Mornine, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Monday, October 19, 2026.
Predeceased by his parents Jack and Molly and his brothers Peter and Larry and his nephew PJ, Johnny will be sadly missed by his loving wife Mairead (Halligan), his daughters Lorraine and Catherine, son-in-law Michael Dolan, his adored grandson Seán, nephews Paul, Barry and Mark, niece Edel, sisters-in-law Brigid (McDonnell), Bernie (Halligan-Fisher), Majella (McQuaide) and brother-in-law Jimmy Halligan, relatives, neighbours and especially all his friends at Carrickedmond GAA Club.
Johnny reposed at his home in Carrickedmond on Tuesday and removal took place on Wednesday, October 21 to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Carrickedmond, arriving for Funeral Mass at 12 noon. Burial took place afterwards in the local cemetery.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.