Niall Donohue celebrates after Galways 2012 All-Ireland SHC semi-final win over Cork.
By John Harrington
Nine swift years have passed since former Galway hurler, Niall Donohue, took his own life at the age of just 22, but the memories of both the man and hurler he was remain as vivid as ever for his family, friends, and team-mates.
An all-action player on the pitch, he was just as effervescent off it, and time in his company was always well spent.
Everyone who knew him has a good humoured story or two to tell, and they’ll all get a good airing on Saturday December 10 when Galway hurling stars past and present play a match in memory of the Kilbeacanty club-man.
The Leinster title winning team of 2012 which Donohue was a member of will take on a 2017 All-Ireland winning selection at Kilbeacanty GAA club with funds raised going to support Jigsaw, the youth mental health charity, and Kilbeacanty GAA.
The match will also be streamed online and will include expert match analysis along with player interviews.
Former Galway hurler Tony Óg Regan is a spokesperson for the organising committee, and hopes the event will both honour Donohue’s memory and do some good for others who need help with their mental health.
“It’s hard to believe it's 10 years since we won the Leinster title with Niall,” Regan told GAA.ie
“Although he was only on the senior panel for two or three years at most with us, he left a huge mark on us in terms of just the fun and positivity and joy he brought to all our lives during that period. He was just the life, soul, and spirit of the team.
“He would always lighten the mood even in pressure situations or after defeats, he was always the person that brought a bit of laughter and craic back into the dressing-room after those moments.
“He was obviously also a really talented hurler. Niall's potential was phenomenal, I think he would have been one of Galway's best backs of all time if he was able to fulfil his potential but it wasn't to be.
“He's a huge loss to us, a huge loss to Kilbeacanty and his family and we're just hoping on December 10 that we can honour his life and recognise his life as well as raise much-needed funds and awareness for mental health.
“Through Jigsaw all the funds will be going towards a school's programme that they're starting up. It's a really, really important time in Irish society and we're hoping to raise as much funds as possible for it.”
On Saturday 10th December, Galway’s biggest hurling stars will play the Niall Donohue Memorial Match in memory of the Kilbeacanty and Galway hurling star.
The match on December 10 will be a poignant occasion because Niall Donohue’s death left such a void for those who knew him best.
But it will also be a celebration of his life and a chance for those who loved him to reconnect and share their stories.
“Yeah, I think it's to recognise Niall's life and the contribution he had during his time here,” says Regan.
“It's important for his family and club as well that Niall is remembered positively and the impact that he had as a role-model in his club, county, and the teams that he played for.
“It would be really nice to see Niall's family again and all our team-mates from that team as well and just catch up with them because it's amazing how little we maybe see of each other now in terms of a week to week or month to month basis with lads in different parts of the county and lads with different priorities now.
“It would be nice to meet up and talk about those days again and remember Niall as well and recognise the life that he had.”
Niall Donohue’s memorial match is just the latest of many initiatives taken by GAA units and the Association as a whole to raise awareness of mental health issues and the charities and organisations that provide help for those who need it.
Through the GAA's Irislh LIfe Healthy Club Project in particular, tremendous work has been done by so many clubs to transform both the mental as well as physical health of their communities.
“Yeah, I think you have to give the organisation huge kudos in terms of that,” says Regan. “I think we're really looking at the footprint we have in each community now and it's so important.
“There's so much a GAA club can offer now in terms of mental health and that social connection with people. To have these extra programmes like the Healthy Clubs initiative where you're raising awareness around different things like mental health, addictions, obesity.
“You're including everyone in the community on these work-shops or projects. or activities and it's making our GAA clubs like a community hall and very inclusive and it's not just about the player any more. There's a much bigger society thing that the GAA club has to provide.
“In fairnes to Croke Park they're really equipping members with the skills to be able to bring the best out of communities in terms of that.”
Tickets for the Niall Donohoe memorial match will be limited and are available on www.jigsaw.ie/hurlingforniall
