Letterkenny children’s play area to be renamed in honour of late Fintan Houston

The memory of the late Fintan Houston will be honoured with one of Letterkenny’s children’s play areas to be renamed after him.

Throughout his life, Fintan raised hundreds of thousands of euro for charity and was integral in setting up the accessible playground in Ballymacool Park for children with special needs.

An account of Fintan’s life and many extraordinary achievements was read out by Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh at a meeting of Letterkenny-Milford MD today. 

Cllr Kavanagh asked the council to rename one of Letterkenny’s two children’s play areas after Fintan. The motion was put forward on behalf of Fintan’s best friend, Pádraig Ó Ruanaí, who was in attendance at the meeting and wrote the detailed account of Fintan’s life.

Cllr Donal Coyle said he was “delighted” to second the motion, which was passed. It is yet to be determined which play area will be named after Fintan.

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Born in Ard O’Donnell, Letterkenny in 1949, Fintan was the fifth of seven children and moved as an infant to Sentry Hill. His parents were Jackie Houston (Drumkeen) and Peggy Molloy (Glasgow of Letterkenny roots.) His father was a bread agent for Larkin’s Bakery and travelled all over North West Donegal. He also owned lorries which he hired out to Lough Swilly Railways and to Donegal County Council.

In his early to mid-twenties, Fintan, together with his father and brother Johnny, started up a crane and digger hire business called Jackie Houston and Sons Limited. They also operated a very successful quarry in Churchill, employing about 160 people.

In 1983, Fintan suffered a very serious brain haemorrhage which rendered him unable to work. His right hand and arm were permanently disabled. 

During his illness, the owner of the quarry sold it and Fintan was left unemployed and with substantial debts incurred in developing the quarry. Fintan and his wife, Marie, had to sell the family home and were essentially destitute. 

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Fintan and Marie started up a Contract Cleaning Business – FM Cleaning - with the help of their teenage daughter Annette. The business quickly grew and today employs 200 people.

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From an early age, Fintan began to fundraise for such local charities as the Fanad Band and Saint Patrick’s Youth Club in Letterkenny. In 1987, he enrolled his daughter in the newly formed Letterkenny Community Gymnastics Club. Through intensive lobbying of local businesses, Fintan purchased state-of the art equipment. His efforts were so successful that the club was able to host a display by an International Gymnastic Display team from Kemerovskia in Siberian Russia which included an Olympic Gold Medallist. To this day, much of the equipment is still in use in Letterkenny Community Centre.

In 1997, Fintan retired from FM Cleaning and began to devote his whole life to raising money for worthy causes in Donegal, Ireland and abroad. In that year he founded the Annual Crumlin Children’s Hospital Golf Classic at the Letterkenny Golf Club Course. He approached this project with his customary zeal and professionalism. Over the years he collected about €110,000 for that worthy cause.

Fintan joined the SNAP (Special Needs Adapted Playground) project around the turn of the century and organised various fundraising activities such as American Country Nights, Fund-Raising Fair in the Town Park, assisting with organising a fashion show and collecting sponsorship from generous local businesses. Much special needs adapted play equipment has been installed in both Letterkenny Town Parks.

Every year from 2013 to 2020, Fintan helped organise the Annual Letterkenny Set Dancing Festival which raised about €17,000 for Peru Children’s Charity and about €3,000 for local Charities including €660 to the Flood Aid for Inishowen in 2017.

Fintan had a sense of adventure and despite having a permanent disability, he learned to ride a three-wheel motorcycle for a 4,000 mile charity tour of California. He also parachuted out of a plane twice, despite a fear of flying.

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Fintan helped many charities over the years, including Temple Street Children’s Hospital; Multiple Sclerosis Donegal Branch; Little Angel’s School, Letterkenny; No Barriers Foundation, Letterkenny; Donegal Autism Family Support Group; Diabetes Ireland Donegal Branch; Donegal Branch 2211 deletion syndrome Ireland ; Donegal Down Syndrome; Crumlin Children’s Hospital; North-West Simon; Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Donegal Branch; SNAP; Letterkenny Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU); Donegal Rape Crisis Centre; Sonas Youth Club & i.C.A.R.E, Inishowen;  Small “c” Golden Ribbon Child & Family Comfort Fund, Letterkenny General Hospital; RNLI (Irish Lifeboats); DCIL (Donegal Independent Living); Donegal Women’s Centre and more.

Fintan Houston passed away in July 2022.