Sadness at death of GAA stalwart Jimí Mhicí Ó Gallachóir

There is widespread sadness following the death of popular Gaoth Dobhair GAA figure Jimí Mhicí Ó Gallachóir.

Late of Stramartin, Derrybeg, Jimí Mhicí passed away in the Donegal Hospice on Wednesday.

The 94-year-old was alive for all 15 of Gaoth Dobhair’s Donegal senior football championship wins, witnessing eleven of them in the flesh.

In 2018, Jimí Mhicí savored the biggest day of them all when Gaoth Dobhair won the Ulster senior club title, beating Scotstown in Omagh.

When the Seamus McFerran Cup was brought through the bonfires back to Magheragallon, Jimí Mhicí spoke emotionally.

“Today was the best of the lot,” he insisted when he spoke in the clubhouse.

“They go to the top. The tears were running down my cheeks. I was proud to see that.”

Born in America, Gaoth Dobhair became home and Gaelic football was his big love.

He could reel off the cast of yesteryear like poetry: “We can’t forget the likes of Hiúdaí Beag, Jackie Gallagher, Danny Gillespie, Jim McFadden, the Coyles, Willie Gallagher, Antoin Rodgers, Neilly Gallagher, Donald Breslin, Eoghanai Beag…”

In 2014, Jimí Mhicí saw nine Gaoth Dobhair players win Ulster senior and minor championships with Donegal.

Ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final with Dublin that year, he said: “I remember us going twenty-three years without a man on the Donegal panel. From Neilly Gallagher played his last Championship game, the next Gaoth Dobhair man to play on the Donegal seniors was Martin Coll. There were great Donegal teams in between, but the club had no-one at that level.”

Jimí Mhicí was predeceased by his parents, Mickey and Mary, his three brothers John, Hughie and his twin Michael.

He will be sadly missed by his wife Bríd, daughters Mary Agnes (Ballina, Co. Mayo) and Caitlín (Navan Co. Meath) and son John Bosco (Letterkenny), grandchildren Odhrán, Éanna & Darragh, sons in law Richie Cloonan and Cyril McGrane, daughter in law Mary McGrath, relatives and friends.

His remains will repose at the family home tomorrow, Friday 10 and Saturday 11 from 12-8pm with rosary each evening at 8pm.

Jimí Mhicí’ sFuneral Mass will be held on Sunday morning, February 12, at 11am in St Marys Chapel, Derrybeg with interment afterwards in Magheragallon Cemetery.

The Funeral Mass can be viewed live on Kieran Roarty Funeral Directors Facebook page.