by Chris Ashmore

A TOWN park playground in Letterkenny is set to be named in honour of a highly respected businessman, entrepreneur and accomplished fundraiser who passed away in 2022.

The late Fintan Houston was a particularly well-known figure, not least for the creation of significant employment but also for extensive and significant fundraising endeavours that are believed to have yielded millions of euro for charities.

Addressing the July meeting of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Council, Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh proposed a motion to name one of the children’s special needs play areas in one of the town parks – along with a plaque – in honour of Mr. Houston who had overcome many challenges in his own personal life yet had been such an inspirational figure.

He quoted from a brief biography drawn up by the late Mr. Houston’s close friend Pádraig Ó Ruanaí about the latter’s outstanding contribution to Letterkenny, County Donegal and the wider Irish community.

Members were told that Mr. Houston had been born in Ard O’Donnell, Letterkenny in 1949, the fifth of seven children and moved as an infant to Sentry Hill. His parents were Jackie Houston (Drumkeen) and Peggy Molloy (Glasgow of Letterkenny roots.) His father was a bread agent for Larkin’s Bakery and travelled all over North West Donegal. He also owned lorries which he hired out to Lough Swilly Railways and to Donegal County Council.

In his early to mid-twenties, Fintan, together with his father and brother Johnny, started up a crane and digger hire business called Jackie Houston and Sons Limited. They loaded and unloaded boats at the Thorn and provided extensive construction expertise to Courtaulds for more than six years during the critical and exciting start-up period for the international textile giant. They also operated a very successful quarry in Churchill. At that time of relatively scarce employment in north Donegal they employed about 160 employees.

BRAIN HAEMORRHAGE

In 1983, Fintan suffered a very serious brain haemorrhage which rendered him unable to work. His right hand and arm were permanently disabled. Fintan was left unemployed and with substantial debts incurred in developing the quarry. Fintan and his wife, Marie, had to sell the family home and were essentially destitute. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Fintan and Marie started up a contract cleaning business – FM Cleaning – with the help of their teenage daughter Annette. The business quickly grew and today employs 200 employees.

CHARITIES

From an early age Fintan began to fund-raise for such local charities as the Fanad Band and Saint Patrick’s Youth Club in Letterkenny.

In 1987 he enrolled his daughter in the newly formed Letterkenny Community Gymnastics Club and immediately set about augmenting the paltry range of equipment available to the club.

In 1997 Fintan retired from FM Cleaning and began to devote his whole life to raising money for worthy causes.

In that year he founded the Annual Crumlin Children’s Hospital Golf Classic at the Letterkenny Golf Club Course, Barnhill, Letterkenny. He approached this project with his customary zeal and professionalism. Over the years he collected about €110,000 for that worthy cause.

In the 1990s Fintan organised at least three big-fight nights. Each of these raised about €20,000. The proceeds of two of them were donated to Crumlin Children’s Hospital and one to the Saint Eunan’s Cathedral redecoration project.

He also organised fundraisers for the Special Needs Adapted Playground equipment in the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park and Ballymacool Town Park.

Other initiatives saw money raised for the Newtowncunningham Orange Hall Restoration (following extensive vandalism); Raphoe and Convoy Orange Hall Restoration (following extensive vandalism); the erection of a monument in Conwall Cemetery, Letterkenny honouring Irish army members who lost their lives on UN duty abroad and charity parachute jumps out of Donegal Airport.

Charities to benefit included: Temple Street Children’s Hospital; Multiple Sclerosis Donegal Branch; Little Angel’s School, Letterkenny; No Barriers Foundation, Letterkenny; Donegal Autism Family Support Group; Diabetes Ireland Donegal Branch; Donegal Branch 2211 deletion syndrome Ireland; Donegal Down Syndrome; Crumlin Children’s Hospital; Donegal Down Syndrome; Peru Children’s Charity; North-West Simon; Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Donegal Branch; SNAP (Special Needs Accessible Playpark, Letterkenny); Letterkenny Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU); Donegal Rape Crisis Centre; Sonas Youth Club and i.C.A.R.E, Inishowen; the Golden Ribbon Child and Family Comfort Fund, Letterkenny General Hospital; RNLI (Irish Lifeboats); DCIL (Donegal Independent Living); Donegal Women’s Centre; Donegal Living Links; and the Blue Ribbon Performing Arts School.

It is estimated that these jumps raised approximately €500,000 for the charities involved.

Fintan Houston also helped organise the Annual Letterkenny Set Dancing Festival, and raised funds for the Ballaghderg Special Needs School in Letterkenny, after being shocked by its state of disrepair.

Full of energy, he even embarked on a fundraising 4,000 mile motorcycle tour of California, despite having very restricted use of his right hand and arm and never having ridden a motorcycle in his life. Fintan purchased a three-wheeled motorcycle, learned to ride it and went on the tour of California including getting badly lost and receiving a police escort.

This spirit was also exemplified by his twice jumping out of a small aeroplane 10,000 feet above the airport in Carrickfinn, despite his intense dislike of flying.

Seconding the motion, Cllr. Donal Coyle said Mr. Houston had been a “townie” who had overcome adversity and fully deserved the accolade.