On behalf of Tony McDonagh’s family we want to sincerely thank you, the Members and Executive of St. Finian’s GAA club, for your support following his sad passing on St. Stephen’s Day, 26th December 2021.  Your kindness towards our family is something that we will remember always.  We read every message posted on Facebook, opened every text and card and appreciated all of your kind words, snippets of memory and tales of times well spent with Tony.  The respect and gratitude the club had (and continues to have) for Tony was masterfully conveyed by the Guard of Honour at the funeral, as he left his home for the final time.  Thank you to everyone who accompanied us on this sad journey.  The sun shining on a sea of St. Finian’s colours and all ages answering the call to represent the club would have pleased Tony no end!  One message summed up the day very well “a heartfelt tribute from family, friends, club and community… and a peaceful resting place among green fields in his beloved Meath”.   

We miss Tony dreadfully.  Numerous times every day, we think of some piece of news or a funny exploit of the grandkids that we ‘must tell Grandad’.  He was the pivot around which so many lives were lived, the patriarch of an extended McDonagh clan.  A much loved husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, father-in-law, uncle and of course, treasured grandfather.  A club man, a stalwart of the community and a friend to so many.  He will be forever missed but the legacy of a life well lived will endure.  We his family will walk in his footsteps and speak his name often, we know we can count on you, the members of his other family, St. Finian’s, to do the same.   May Tony rest in peace. 

With thanks and best wishes, Maree, David & Paul