The parish priest of Termon has said that Donegal needs no greater incentive to go on and win the All-Ireland than to honour tragic GAA fan Andrew Duffy.
Fr Pat McHugh was speaking today as more than 1,500 people turned up for the funeral of the young farmer who drowned in Dublin last weekend.
Bathed in warm sunshine, St Columba’s Church was packed to overflowing as people turned up to show their respects to the 24 year old farmer.
Fr McHugh said he still couldn’t sleep thinking about Andrew and how Donegal’s joy had turned to sadness at hearing of the young man’s passing.
He spoke of a young man who was shy, unassuming and who had a deep faith.
“This county was ecstatic at Donegal’s win over Cork and the fact that we were in only our second All-Ireland final. As the news filtered through the county and through our country, even the most exuberant fan found the good had gone out of the occasion
“Everyone felt for the Duffy family in their suffering and grief. I watched the Donegal flags flutter in the breeze as I travelled to Termon and thought to myself how happy we should be but sadly we find ourselves in the throes of grief,” he said.
He said his thoughts and prayers were with Andrew’s mother Margaret, father John and sisters Leanne and Carolyn.
He also revealed how Andrew had even telephoned his dad John at 11pm to seek his permission after deciding to staying in Dublin after the semi-final win.
A number of Donegal GAA stars including Michael Murphy, Mark McHugh, Karl Lacey and Brendan Boyle also attended the funeral mass.
Members of Andrew’s own club Termon provided a guard of honour to and form the funeral mass as did a number of other clubs including Glenswilly and Gaoth Dobhair.
Fr McHugh added that Andrew has already left his legacy by the way he lived life but said his football heroes could still honour him one last time
“At times like this one often thinks of erecting a monument in memory of the deceased, but Andrew left his monument in this community and it is a monument of a life well-lived.
“If the Donegal team needs an incentive to win the All-Ireland, it would be to honour the memory of Andrew Duffy,” said Fr.McHugh.
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