THE funeral takes place today of well-known Letterkenny man Eugene McGettigan.
He passed away suddenly at Letterkenny University Hospital on Saturday.
A very well known and extremely popular man, news of Eugene’s sudden passing has brought widespread sadness.
Many have taken to social media to pay their respects to his family and offer their messages of sympathy and sadness.
Eugene was from a family that’s very well known in Letterkenny and beyond.
In a post on social media, a spokesperson for McGettigan Travel said: “With a very heavy heart, we are absolutely devastated to announce the sudden passing of our dear brother, uncle, friend and a highly important member of our family and team here at McGettigan Travel.
“Eugene, you were the heart and soul of our tours, always willing for a chat and ready for anything, anytime, any place.
“His premature passing will leave a huge void in our daily lives and his ever cheerful and knowledgeable presence will be sorely missed.
“May his gentle soul rest in peace.
“Our sincere condolences go Eugene’s sons Barry (Caroline), Ryan, Rory (Deandra) and Eileen and his two granddaughters Erin and Chloe.”
Portsalon Golf Club, where Mr McGettigan was a long-standing member, also paid their respects.
“Eugene was our Portsalon GC Captain in 1999 and a long-standing member here for many years.
“The infectious nature of his personality meant Eugene made a rapid impact on Portsalon when he joined and so it was with great pride that he pulled on the famous blazer to become captain in ’99.
“A keen golfer, camaraderie and a team ethos were central to Eugene’s thinking and so it was that he became a key team captain in his time, with his Ulster Cup teams enjoying some famous wins around the province and some unforgettable occasions for those involved in the teams.
“A love of golf was something Eugene certainly passed on to his three sons – Barry, Ryan and Rory – all of whom spent time in their youth working in the shop here in the golf club.
“It would be impossible to have spent time in Eugene’s company without getting a sense of the pride that he had in his sons.
“Their exploits on and off the golf course clearly meant the world to him.
“Their love of the game was fuelled by him and, in return, he got an immense pleasure in seeing them succeed on the golf course, with some famous days enjoyed out on the course in Portsalon.”
Requiem Mass will be celebrated in St Eunan’s Cathedral at 11am today (Monday) followed by interment in St. Columba’s Church Cemetery, Kilmacrennan. Mass can be viewed on Church Services TV.
Eugene is predeceased by his parents Packie and Kathleen.
He is deeply missed by his loving sons Barry, Ryan and Rory, their mother Eileen, daughter-in-law Caroline, grandchildren Erin and Chloe, brothers Seamus, Philip, Cathal, Patrick and Dermott, sisters Ann-Marie Scanlon, Lorraine and Caroline O’Sullivan, uncle Edward McGettigan and aunt Susan Shields, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and a wide circle of family, friends and neighbours.
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