Like his famous namesake, the victor of Benburb, Owen Roe O’Neill could be described as a latter-day Gaelic chieftain.
Born into a family steeped in Gaelic culture in Ballyshannon’s East Port, he was raised with a passion for both football and hurling.
Aged just 16 in 1956, he was part of the first Donegal team to win a minor Ulster title. He won a county senior title with Erne Valley six years later.
With the larger ball he lined out as an attacker for his beloved Aodh Ruadh club in Ballyshannon and was still a minor player when he took on the post of club secretary.
In 1961 he turned his talents to management and helped steer the club to a senior championship, its first since 1937.
That team had a strong Bundoran contingent, as the Seasiders didn’t have a minor team that year, and Owen Roe became the driving force in bringing together the talents of the two towns.
In 1963 an amalgamation, christened Saint Joseph’s, lined out for the first time and went on to sweep all before them, winning seven senior titles in 11 years.
Unofficial Ulster titles were claimed in 1967 and 1968 before a famous victory over Dunmore McHale’s brought an unofficial All-Ireland club title to the town.
Saint Joseph’s went on to claim the first official Ulster title won by a Donegal club in 1975.
As St Joseph’s disbanded towards the end of the 1970s, Owen Roe returned his focus to Ballyshannon and was instrumental in developing its very successful town leagues.
All the while he ran the popular bar that bore his name in East Port, passed down from his parents, Frank and Agnes.
In latter years Owen Roe’s support for the club remained as staunch as ever. He sponsored jerseys, and his Thursday quizzes were another reliable stream of income.
In 2003 his contribution on and off the pitch saw Owen Roe inducted into the Aodh Ruadh Hall of Fame.
In 2014 he became club president, a post he held until his death.
Witty, always ready with a humorous anecdote, vivacious, welcoming, a committed and devoted Gael, he embodied everything good about the family he came from, his home place and the games he loved with such a passion.
Owen Roe O’Neill died on February 28. He is survived by his wife Maura and children Owen Roe Jr, Shane, Barry and Louise.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
John Rooney