Traffic and parking announced as Ardara prepares for Stephen McCahill funeral

Mourners attending the funeral of Stephen McCahill in Ardara on Saturday have been urged to use designated car parks in the town.

A huge crowd is expected to flock to Ardara from all corners as the south west town prepares to say a final farewell to the popular Mr McCahill.

The popular businessman, a 66-year-old father-of-two, was murdered at his home in Beagh, Ardara in the early hours of Monday.

Patrons attending Ardara for what will be one of the largest funerals seen in the area are asked to use the following car parks: Car park behind Nancy’s, F94 D825; Ardara Community Centre, Hillhead, 10-minute walk, F94 Y9V3; Methodist Hall, 10 minute walk, F94 TK82; Triona Design, opposite the church, F94 XY81; John Molloy’s Factory, Killybegs Road, approx 15-minute walk, F94 RX43; Larry Snacks yard Killybegs Road, 20-minute walk, F94RX51.

Stewards will be on site to direct people in the area.

Details for the route to be taken by Mr McCahill’s funeral cortege have also been confirmed.

There will be a private family removal from the family home. The cortege will turn right at Eddie Doherty’s, go around Pearse Memorial Park, exit at the Portnoo Road, travel up through Hillhead and continue down through the town.

Books of condolences opened at Pearse Memorial Park - the home of the Ardara GAA Club - and at the Dolmen Centre in Kilclooney.

Tributes have poured in for Mr McCahill, who was a long-time community activist and businessman who was the Donegal Person of the Year in 2016.

“The loss to his family, friends and the Parish of Ardara is unquantifiable and we hope that time will eventually heal everyone who mourn his passing,” CLG Ard An Ratha said.

“It was as a community man though that Stephen will be remembered most…since first working in the Nesbitt Arms as a young lad under Connie and Nessa Molloy, he had been a familiar face in Ardara. 

“His work in promoting the Town as the home of the festivals has brought thousands of people to the area over the years, providing employment for so many as a result, and his work with the Town Traders and Awake Tourism was always based around getting economic support for the town so that local businesses would benefit most.”

Singer Imelda May, who was in McCahill’s Corner House bar on Saturday night, said she was “heatbroken” at the passing of a man she said was “special” and was “the glue to a whole community of Ardara”.

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A man has been remanded in custody having been charged with Mr McCahill’s murder.

Michael Maloney (32), of Loughros Point, Ardara, appeared before Judge Ciaran Liddy at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on Tuesday evening.

Maloney, a musician who has more than 15 million streams on Spotify, was charged with murder, contrary to common law and as provided for by Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1964.

Maloney was remanded in custody at Castlerea Prison.

Mr McCahill’s funeral takes place on Saturday at 12 noon in the Church Of The Holy Family, Ardara with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.