Large turnout for funeral of Donal Bradley, Donegal Town

A clear and crisp morning greeted a large gathering of mourners at the funeral earlier today of popular Donegal Town man, Donal Bradley. 

His love and passion for motorsport and rallying saw two such cars lead the funeral cortege as it slowly made its way along the main N15 road from Clogher in Barnesmore to St. St Agatha’s Church in Clar.

Guards of honours including one from the local Abbey Vocational School met the hearse as it made its way to the front of the church.

Chief celebrant Very Rev Seamus Dagens, who was assisted by Very Rev William Peoples, spoke of the deceased as a man that could turn his hand to anything.

The two rally cars that led the funeral cortege to the Church for the funeral of Donal Bradley

He offered the congregation's and community’s support to his daughters, Nicole and  Victoria, brothers  Patrick and John, sisters Rosemary and Breege, inlaws, nieces and nephews.

He said that Donal was the youngest of the family of five children in July of 1971 and after attending local primary school attended AVS, where he made some lifelong friends.

He was a great son, brother and was especially proud of his daughters “and thought the world of them”.   

His many friends had recalled many of the fun times they had shared together, since his passing.

Fr Dagens said: “He was generous and kind, very much a typical country lad, who was reared on a small farm. He was generous, kind and obliging and couldn’t do enough for his neighbours, friends or anyone in need. 

“And he could turn his hand, as far as I can see, to just about anything.  

He alluded to the deceased's love of motorsport, “anything that was fast moving appealed to him”, a fact that was also noted when his rally helmet and a small tyre were brought to the altar, to represent that great passion of his life.

Donal’s tremendous work ethic was also alluded to, where by day he used to run his ‘Bradley Tyres’ business at Drumrooske by day and then continue with taxi work in the evenings.   

Later he had also turned his hand to painting and restoring various types of tractors, bobcat mini diggers and machinery.

A special tribute wrap for the late Donal Bradley on the Mini Cooper summed up his passion for Motorsport. 

He said that Donal had died at a young age of 51, when he could have been expected to have had at least another 30 to 40 years of life ahead of him but sadly, “we do not all get the same kind of cards to play with”.

He hoped that Donal was now well again, at rest and at peace in the hands of God and his late parents Josie and Bridget.  

After the funeral Mass, the deceased was buried in the adjoining cemetery. 

May he rest in peace.