The late Francis Gillespie, Mountcharles - A tribute
The recent death of Francis Gillespie, Hall Demesne, Mountcharles evoked much sadness in the south Donegal area and many memories of a life lived to the full.
Whether it was on the football field, at work or in the family home, Francis went about his business in a quiet but passionate way. He was an extremely skilled carpenter and would not settle for anything less than doing the job the right way.
There are many stories retold at the wake and funeral, which was conducted in the way he would have lived, a simple, modest funeral . . . maybe a bit like the man himself.
The priest at the funeral referenced words from an Elvis song “a little less conversation and a little more action please”.
That summed up Francis Gillespie.
His football career was with St Naul’s, with which he won a Junior Championship in 1972 as an attacking half-back. Before that he was part of the first ever Donegal Vocational Schools team to win an Ulster title in 1964, ironically playing as a corner-forward.
He was a student at Donegal Town Vocational School and the Donegal county team defeated Down by 2-11 to 1-3 to win the Ulster title in Omagh. They lost out to Offaly in Breffni Park, Cavan in the All-Ireland semi-final by 0-13 to 2-3.
The Donegal VS team on duty was: Paul McDermott (Glenties); Malachy Sweeney (Donegal Town), Fonsie Bogle (Ballyshannon), S McGinley (Donegal Town), Eamonn McFadden (Gortahork), Patrick Ferry (Gortahork), Patrick Maloney (Carrick), Pauric McShea (Ballyshannon), Seamus Martin (Ballyshannon), Danny Boyle (Dungloe), Louis Reilly (Stranorlar), Joe Byrne (Glenties), Thomas Quinn (Ballyshannon), Liam McDonald (Stranorlar), Francis Gillespie (Donegal Town). Subs: Owen Gillespie for S Martin; John Joe Ferry (Stranorlar) for McGinley.
Francis went on to play for years for St Naul’s, nearly always as a half-back, but also played for Clanna Gael in the senior championship, an amalgamation of St Paul's, Four Masters and Pettigo.
His friend and current St Paul's Club President, Michael O’Boyle, remembers him in one particular game playing for Clanna Gael and marking the great Neilly Gallagher in Tirconaill Park.
O’Boyle also remembers going to Dungloe the year after winning the Donegal Junior Championship in 1972 to play in the senior championship and Francis being on the team. “The referee didn’t turn up and we tossed and we won the toss and I had to referee the game. It wouldn’t happen now.
“Francis wouldn’t have been known as a point scorer but I remember the year we won the league in 1973 we went to play an important game in Burt. Francis went on a run and shot for a point but it was well wide. The late Mickey McGinty was our linesman and he always travelled on the bus with us and he immediately went for the white flag.
“Of course it was disputed and the referee went in to Mickey, who said: 'it doesn’t make any difference whether it’s wide or not, it’s a good point’.”
There were numerous stories like that told at Francis’s wake, another being the game between St Paul's and Killybegs in Mountcharles when the three Gillespie brothers - Francis, Sean and Pauric - lasted just 10 minutes, all three being sent off.
Michael O’Boyle recalls that Eamonn Byrne and Dominic Mullin were two of the Killybegs players sent off. “Jimmy White told me who the third was but I can’t remember now.”
Francis Gillespie’s life revolved around his family, the GAA, cycling his bike and cutting his grass. His loss to the family was immense. The family home and surrounds with the beautiful view across Donegal Bay are a reflection of his handiwork.
May his soul rest in peace.