RENOWNED election analyst and pollster Seán Donnelly was laid to rest in Letterkenny on Friday following his sad passing last week.

Mr Donnelly of Milltown, Dublin 6 and formerly of Cathedral Place, Letterkenny, passed away peacefully at St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin on Wednesday, November 26.

Requiem Mass took place in St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny on Friday.

Mr Donnelly was best known for being a regular contributor to RTÉ’s election coverage for several decades, where he offered illuminating and often memorable political insights.

At his funeral Mass, Chief Celebrant, Fr Anthony Hartnett remembered the Letterkenny native as a man who cherished people and their stories.

“It seems, on reflection of Seán’s life, that there were three great passions, sport, travel and politics,” Fr Hartnett said.

“In his years as a boy in Letterkenny, his interests in these three grew and grew under the influence of his family and his community.

“And these passions would take him from Dublin all the way around the world and back again.

“And when he would return, he would visit with those he loved and he would talk about everything that had happened.

“He would reminisce.”

Fr Hartnett said it would be difficult to capture the sheer number of adventures Seán experienced, be it in his work as an engineer, his love of sport, or his keen interest in politics.

“And then, there is also, of course, his adventures as an uncle and as a friend,” Fr Hartnett continued.

“It is hard to speak about all of these things because the information would just be too much.

“It would probably be the length of one of his many books that he published, analysing the political elections.

“However, one thing I think is important to say is that his final days were marked with a great trial of illness.

“And that cross, he bore well with the help of his family and his neighbours, and of course his dog Oreo.”

Pictured are former Derry People staff in the former Market Square office. Included, are, editor, Pat McArt, Declan Doherty, Suzanne Rodgers, Maggie Breslin, Connie Duffy and Frank Donnelly, Seán’s father, fourth from left, who worked as advertising rep/manager.

After Mass, burial took place in New Leck Cemetery.

Meanwhile, tributes have been pouring in for the popular local man.

Former Derry People Donegal News Deputy Editor Charlie Joe McGinley described Mr Donnelly as a “great mind”.

He told the Donegal News: “Seán Donnelly was one of the sharpest political analysts this country has ever seen.

“He had an almost encyclopedia-like memory and an unmatched recall of facts and figures.

“But, to back it all up, there wasn’t an electoral constituency in the country he didn’t know intrinsically.”

Mr McGinley, who now works for RTÉ, added how Mr Donnelly was a proud Letterkenny man who never forgot his Donegal roots. Poignantly, Mr Donnelly’s father, Frank, worked as an advertising repmanager with the Derry People Donegal News.

“Seán was a regular guest on RTÉ’s political programmes for many years, and the author of several books about elections,” he said.

“Foremost Seán Donnelly, was a proud Letterkenny and Donegal man.

“He was a regular attendee at the Donegal Person of the Year event, organised by the Donegal Association in Dublin annually.

“If you met him in Dublin, his first words would inevitably be ‘how are things in Donegal?’

“He never, ever forgot his roots.

“Deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

“A great mind has left the stage.”

Mr Donnelly is predeceased by his wife, Eilish, parents, Frank and Eilís, sisters, baby Elaine, Sue Lynch and Greta.

He is deeply missed by his loving sisters Marie Kelly (Dublin), Frances Hughes (Dave) (Dublin), brother Leo (Sharon) (Letterkenny), nieces, nephew and a wide circle of family, friends and neighbours in Dublin and Letterkenny.