A Dungloe man who died suddenly in Scotland has given three people the gift of life by donating his organs.
Connell Boyle passed away last Friday following an accident at his home in Stepps on the outskirts of Glasgow.
His brother Hugh said yesterday that Connell was a deeply generous man in life and that by donating his organs he had given “right up until the end”.
From Meenmore in Dungloe, Connell Boyle left Donegal 34 years ago to move to London. From there he moved to Scotland where he lived for a time with close friend and former Ireland international goalkeeper Packie Bonner who was playing for Celtic at the time.
Mr Boyle secured employment as a store man with Du Pont-owned EKC Technology and worked his way up to the position of European Region Managing Director.
For the last ten years the 59-year-old had run his own business, An Cuig, providing lab chemicals to companies all over the world.
A staunch Fianna Fáil supporter, Connell Boyle was a close cohort of Pat The Cope Gallagher and returned to Donegal earlier this year to help candidate Enda Bonner with his election campaign.
During his years in Scotland Mr Boyle became a prominent community figure who helped establish strong links between Glasgow’s Chamber of Commerce and businesses in Donegal. He was also pivotal in helping many young Irish men and women settle in his adopted city.
Connell Boyle’s death is the second to hit his family in four years. In December 2015, their father, Cornelius ‘Connie Ellen John’ Boyle, died in a house fire in Dungloe.
Hugh Boyle said his family has been left heartbroken by Connell’s death.
“Connell would have been big into his politics, a big Fianna Fáil man and him and Enda Bonner would have been great friends. He would have been with Pat The Cope when he started out and having spoken to Pat in recent days, he was saying how they started with a table and chair up in his house.
“He loved politics and he never missed an election. He even took time off earlier this year to come over and help Enda with his campaign.”
Hugh said his brother was well known for his generous spirit and that even in death, he continued to give.
“One thing about him was that he was always a very giving person who never looked for anything back. He was involved in more stuff than enough and his generosity was unconditional to the point that I would say it cost him money.
“His organs have been donated and three people have benefited as a result. But that is who Connell was, he gave right up to the last, he couldn’t have given any more.”
Connell with Irish President Michael D Higgins.
One of the organisations Connell Boyle was involved with was Donegal Heart, a group set up to enhance links between Ireland and Glasgow.
In a heartfelt tribute, they described him as “not only a committee member but our guiding light and friend”.
“Seldom will any of us come across a person who gave so much of themselves yet sought so little in return,” they said.
“That selfless nature and constant consideration of others is a trait that stood him out from the masses, as an exceptional man among millions.
“Connell was an outstanding member of the Donegal Diaspora, long before the Diaspora word became fashionable. He was proud of anything which assisted the connection with his much loved Donegal. Sorting out tickets for Celtic games in the 1990s for the lads coming from the Rosses and Gaoth Dobhair to watch Celtic and Packie Bonner in action. Organising Mary from Dungloe events, meeting young Donegal folk who were settling into either work or college life in the city, simply meeting anyone who crossed the pond.”
Donegal Heart said Connell Boyle’s work in establishing links between West Donegal businesses and the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce was a further indication of his “deep love and care for the community of Donegal as well as those who lived in the city which he cherished”.
“We will miss Connell, we will miss him deeply . No one is actually dead until the ripples they caused in the world actually die away. It is therefore our responsibility at this very sad time to remember to keep that ripple alive and to continue the legacy of his great connection with home and all that goes with it.
“We are sad yet privileged to have spent time with someone so deep and caring that his light will shine on forever.”
Connell Boyle is survived by his brothers Hugh and Patrick and sister Helen. A Mass of remembrance was said in Acres Chapel, Burtonport, on Thursday ahead of funeral Mass in Stepps on Monday.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)