There is great sadness not only in Donegal but throughout Ireland this week following the passing of Eamon Harvey, Drimark, Donegal Town.
Mr Harvey was hugely respected both in Donegal and further afield.
From his early days in school in Drimarone, athletics and sport were always to the forefront of his interests.
Interests in Gaelic football and Basketball were also major influences in his life, but athletics was always the priority. He started coaching Irish juvenile teams before he moved up as Team Coach for the Olympics and Paralympics in Atlanta in 1996, where Paralympian Bridie Lynch won gold in the Women’s discus F12, with a further five bronze medals won in track and field events.
He was coach to the Para Ireland team at the next three Olympic Games with an 18 medal haul.
Eamon had a huge influence at Tir Chonaill AC in Donegal Town, mentoring many athletes including Kelly McGrory.
Having taken up the sport at the age of eight, McGrory would have spent a lot of time in the presence of Eamon, learning from his years of experience in athletics.
However, the Laghey native expressed that he also played a huge role in her life away from the track, helping to shape her as a person.
“Eamon felt like a family member to me and I know that a lot of girls that I grew up with that I ran with as a teenager felt the same way.
“He was a huge part of my life and my journey in the sport. I just feel so grateful to him for everything I’ve achieved now, I wouldn’t be where I am today without him or without his influence.
“I started athletics when I was eight but I think Eamon coached me until I was 19. He obviously taught us a lot on the track but also off the track as well.
“It’s probably not until you get a bit older that you appreciate how much he gave you in terms of shaping you as a person. I can’t even put it into words what he gave me as a young adult but I spent a lot of young years with him, whether it was travelling the country to competitions or down at the track in Tir Chonaill.”
During her two decades competing on the track, McGrory has gone on to achieve some superb things in the sport, with her appearance at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics being top of this list.
This accomplishment is the pinnacle for any athlete and she described it as a ‘full-circle moment’, having Eamon witness her take to the world stage after him starting her on this journey back when she was a juvenile.
“He was so proud of that and he told me that himself too. It was kind of a full circle moment. That’s the pinnacle but it wouldn’t have happened without the start of the journey or Eamon paving the way and putting those fundamentals in place.
“I think It was really nice for him to witness that and for me to give that back to the club and back to Eamon. To have somebody that you put so much time in as a juvenile and seeing them become an Olympian.
“The Olympics is the pinnacle of our sport so it was a really nice moment after all the years of hard work and to know that he really did make a difference in somebody’s life.”
As well as McGrory, many others have the work of Eamon to thank for what they have gone on to achieve, not only in athletics but in other sports as well.
He was someone who possessed a wealth of wisdom and sporting experience but also an abundance of belief according to the Donegal athlete.
Speaking to the Donegal News, she recalled a time during her teenage years where Eamon expressed his belief in her which she didn’t even have in herself at the time, displaying the faith that he showed in young, aspiring athletes.
“There’s so many athletes that have Eamon to thank for who they are today, whether that be in sport or outside of sport. He was just such a great voice of reason and a great teacher and an educator.
“I remember when I was 15 or 16 down on the track with him, it was just the two of us and in the middle of a session he said to me that I don’t think I realise how much potential I have and how good I am.
“I never believed him but as the years went on and I started to get more results, I started to believe it. If I had the belief in myself that Eamon had in me then I probably would’ve had much more success in my earlier days.
“I eventually got there but I look back now, he had so much belief without evidence and obviously I wanted the evidence. I just think I was so lucky to have someone like that in my life who had more belief in me than I had myself.”
Eamon was a loved and widely respected individual by all and he will be sorely missed not only in the community but also nationally.
Kelly discussed that she’ll remember him for his passion for helping others and the belief that he displayed in everyone, stating that his legacy is one that will continue to live on for generations to come.
“I think I’ll remember him for his huge love for helping people and his huge love for sport. Even that story I shared about the belief he had in a young athlete.
“That wasn’t just me, he had that belief for everybody and he gave everyone an equal opportunity. I think that belief and inspiration, I’ll always remember him for that and I’ll carry that through in my sporting journey and my life after that.”
“His passion for his own work as a coach, working in sport and his dedication to sport and young people. That’ll never be forgotten and his legacy will live on for years and generations to come, he has not left anything behind.”
