Sad passing of former garda and Donegal footballer Jim Brennan

Former Donegal football manager and Na Rossa GAA clubman Declan Bonner  has led tributes to former garda and county football Jim Brennan who has passed away.

The late Jim Brennan passed away  in Dungloe Community Hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a long battle with illness.

“It is very sad news indeed,” said Bonner, a former teammate  of the deceased with Na Rossa. “Jim was not only a good  footballer he was also a great character. He  joined Na Rossa in 1981. We were just starting out at the time and were a very young team and it was great to have a player of Jim’s experience playing along with us.

“He had played for Donegal two years earlier in the Ulster final and had been a regular on that team up to the final against Monaghan. “We won the junior championship and I remember in full forward line the final against Gaoth Dobhair,  Jim was at full-forward and I was 16 at the time and I was one corner and my brother Donal was only 15 was in the other corner.”

Jim was a native of Balla in Mayo and was educated at St Jarlath’s College in Tuam. 

After a short stint stationed in Letterkenny following his graduation from Templemore he was transferred to Dungloe where he served until his retirement. As well as playing club football with Na Rossa, he also played with Rosses Rovers and Dungloe, with whom he won an Intermediate championship. In his mid 70s, Jim also refereed club and school games in Donegal well into to his 60s. 

He is predeceased by his wife Maureen and will be sadly missed by his partner Kate, son Thomas and Michael and daughter Mary Frances, grandchildren and wide circle of friends. The late Jim Brennan will be laid to rest following requiem mass in Dungloe on Friday morning, in Maghery cemetery. Ar Dhéis Dé ar a anam.