The late Eamon Harvey fondly remembered as a man of education and sport

The late Eamon Harvey will be laid to rest in Killymard on Tuesday.

Eamon, of Drimark, Donegal Town, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, predeceased by his parents Paddy and Roseabell, his brother Jimmy and sisters Kathleen Pryal and Patricia Brennan.

Deeply regretted by his loving wife Jacqueline, his children, Camilla (Shane Quinn), Deirdre (Charles Martin), Michelle (Andrew Gallagher), Pauric (Patrice Rooney) and Louise, his adored grandchildren, his brother Colm (Sheila), sister-in-law Kitty Harvey, brother-in-law Martin Pryal, nieces, nephews, and all his extended family and friends.

In 2025, the Donegal Town Eamon Harvey 10km race - with a 5km family fun walk - was officially launched and named after Eamon to celebrate his contribution to athletics and the local community. 

He was also commended by Athletics Ireland, receiving a Services to Coaching Award in 2018, and he was also inducted into the Ulster Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024 for his outstanding contribution and commitment to athletics.

Eamon will be fondly remembered in athletics, sport in general, and education circles.

“I remember very well sitting in a small classroom out in Drimarone, when Ronnie Delaney won the gold in 1956, and on the back wall there was a photograph up on the back wall of the classroom of Delaney running through the line with his two arms in the air,” he said in 2024. “That would’ve been my first memory of the Olympics.”

After graduating in Physical Education from Manchester University, Eamon took up a teaching position at the then Donegal Town Vocational School, now Abbey Vocational School.

Acting as Assistant Principal for 11 years, he remained as their head of sport until he retired in 2006, before going to work on a professional basis with Athletics Ireland in the areas of Coach Education and Development. He was also secretary of Four Masters GAA club in Donegal Town and worked with Donegal GAA teams, both minor, who he helped to the 1991 Ulster championship, and senior. 

Eamon was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Donegal Sports Star Committee as recently as late January, becoming their 50th inductee.

"From his early days in school in Drimarone, athletics and sport were always to the forefront of his interests," Declan Kerr, the Donegal Sports Star PRO, said at the time.

"Interests in Gaelic football and basketball were also major influences in his life, but athletics were always the priority. He started coaching Irish juvenile teams before he moved up as Team Coach for the Olympics and Paralympics in Atlanta in 1996, where Paralympian Bridie Lynch won gold in the Women's discus F12, with a further five bronze medals won in track and field events.”

“I actually stayed in the US for three months in total because I was also coaching the Paralympics team where I worked with Bridie Lynch who became the first Paralympian, and partially sighted athlete, to win a gold medal for Ireland,” Eamon recalled 18 months ago of the summer of 1996. “I can still remember to this day, her winning the gold by 20cm . . . I’ll never forget it.”

Eamon was the coach of the Para Ireland team at the next three Olympic Games with an 18-medal haul. 

He proudly watched one of his former protegees at Tír Chonaill Athletic Club, Kelly McGrory, represent Ireland at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The Laghey native was part of the Irish 4x400m relay team, running the semi-final alongside Sophie Becker, Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley, with Rhasidat Adeleke coming in for the final, where Ireland finished fourth. 

“Athletics is really exciting in Ireland at the minute, probably more now than ever,” Eamon said at the time “I think the big difference about these athletes now is that they’re not just happy to be here and make up the numbers, they’re here to compete with the best and believe they can beat the best.”

Eamon’s remains will repose at Gallagher's Funeral Home, Station Road, Mountcharles, (F94 X02N) on Sunday, March 1, from 2pm until 8pm, and Monday, March 2, from 3pm until 8pm.

Remains leaving his late residence on Tuesday, March 3, for Funeral Mass at 11am in St Mary's Church, Killymard, (F94 C6T7), followed by interment in Clar cemetery. Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu, if so desired to the Oncology Unit, Letterkenny. The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed on the Gallagher Funeral Directors & Funeral Home Facebook page.