Carrigtwohill GAA Club and the wider community were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Donie McCarthy.  We extend our sincerest and heartfelt condolences to Jackie, Colman, Brian, Caroline, Steve, Donie’s extended family and friends.

Dónal (Donie) McCarthy grew up in Carrigtwohill, the grand-nephew of Jimmy ‘Major’ Kennedy and Billy Kennedy who both played on Carrig’s first senior hurling county winning team in 1918; Billy captained Carrig to that historic win, with the Major going on to captain Cork to All-Ireland glory in 1919.  Donie’s father, Danny McCarthy and uncle, Mikey McCarthy played on the great Carrigtwohill senior hurling team of the 1930s.

Donie played for Carrig, as did his three younger brothers, Seán (RIP, whose son is Carrig and Cork legend, Niall McCarthy), Mike (RIP) and Nelius. He won an East Cork U14 B hurling championship and was the youngest player on Carrig’s junior A East Cork and County Championship winning side in 1966, lining out at midfield in his final year as a minor.  Donie also played in the drawn and replayed 1971 intermediate hurling county finals against Nemo Rangers, with Carrig losing out in the replay.

Donie Mac emigrated to London for four years (1972-1976) and played with St. Gabriel’s, winning a London senior hurling championship three-in-a-row between 1972 and 1974 on a team that was loaded with a Galway contingent, numbering twelve, along with two Cork men and one Tipperary player.  Donie also made the London senior hurling panel for two years (1972 and 1973).  Following his return home, Donie won an East Cork junior A championship with Carrigtwohill against Cloyne in 1978 and lined out in the county final against Mayfield, which Carrig lost.

In 1983, well into his thirties, Donie played his last game for Carrig when he put in a brilliant display in the full-back line in a two point defeat to St. Catherine’s, the eventual county winners, in the East Cork junior A hurling championship semi-final.  He moved to Saudi Arabia for four years.  Donie returned to Saudi in 1994 for six years and helped found the second GAA club in the country, in Riyadh. During work assignment in the USA, Donie set up Clan na Gael hurling club in Atlanta, Georgia in 2001.

From 2003, Donie got more involved in GAA in the Middle East, as Irish emigrants flooded into the region. He was pivotal in getting hurling played in the Dubai Celts, a predominantly football club. Donie would stay in Dubai for over fifteen years, building up his business, and playing a key role, as a member of the Middle East County Board, in making the region a GAA hub for expats. There are fourteen clubs now based in the Middle East with competitions in hurling, football, ladies football and camogie.  Donie Mac was a key ‘player’ in the team that made this happen, so that young emigrants can play their national games and have a bit of ‘home from home’ whilst working abroad.

When the GAA planned All-Star trips to the Middle East, Donie McCarthy was one of the go-to people. He was also involved in the organisation of tournaments, with teams flying in from various parts of the region. Donie managed the Middle East hurling team for the World Games in 2014, which were played in Galway. The team would train at 7am in Dubai to avoid the searing 40 degree heat at 9am, with players flying in from neighbouring countries. The tournament attracted teams from Asia, Canada, USA and Australia. The Middle East won Division 2 of the tournament.

During his time abroad, Donie always kept in regular contact with club members for news of Carrig’s fortunes on the field of play. He made the trip home for many Carrigtwohill and Cork games.  Donie fundraised from abroad in the 1980s for the purchase of the lands for what is now Pitch 1.  In 2009, he helped organise the Carrig senior hurlers’ holiday in Dubai.

In more recent years, Donie was back at home in his beloved Carrigtwohill.  Despite his ill-health, Donie Mac was involved in three different club committees and showing great enthusiasm for the future development of club facilities.

Donie McCarthy was passionate about GAA, hurling in particular, in the true sense of the word.  He was an extremely proud Carrig and Cork man, right to his very core.  Donie Mac was genuine, honest and forthright in his views, without there being an ulterior motive.  He had an insatiable appetite for information and was a fountain of knowledge. Donie was genuinely interested in people and their life story.  During his time abroad, Donie was like a father figure to the many young people landing in a foreign country; helping them secure work, providing advice and showing great kindness in times of difficulty or crisis.  Donie bore his illness with that same great dignity and honesty of his, without ever complaining.

In recent times, you would rarely be on the West End bank of an evening at any match, from U12 to adult level, without seeing Donie perched there.  He would quite often be accompanied by his son, Colman, who is now an underage coach with the club. Donie’s grandson and granddaughter both play with Carrig.

Donie wheeled GAA around the world and those wheels will keep on turning.

To quote the man himself:

'On the ball, Donie!'

Rest in peace, a chara.

Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a anam uasal.  Leaba i measc na Naomh go raibh agat, Donie.

For funeral arrangements & condolences:

https://rip.ie/death-notice/donal-donie-mccarthy-cork-carrigtwohill-551857