The Offaly team which beat Roscommon in the 1961 All Ireland SFC semi-final. Front l-r: Sean Brereton, Charlie Wrenn, Har Donnelly, Willie Nolan, John Egan, Mick Brady, Tommy Greene. Back, l-r: Greg Hughes, Peter Daly, Paddy McCormack, Mick Casey, Phil O'Reilly, Donie Hanlon, Sean Ryan, Tommy Cullen.

The late Har Donnelly: Offaly football hero fondly remembered

Kieran Galvin

Published: Mon 8 Feb 2021, 8:07 AM

Last updated: Mon 8 Feb 2021, 8:22 AM

Offaly football legend Harry (Har) Donnelly, a key figure in the breakthrough team of the early 1960s, passed away last Thursday.

Donnelly was one of the stars of the Offaly teams which won the Leinster titles of 1960 and 1961, also contesting the famed 1961 All-Ireland final against Down.

Donnelly was born in Kilcormac but spent much of his youth in Athlone, before moving to Dublin to work in the Air Corps.

He played football for Athlone and Westmeath at juvenile level, also winning an All-Ireland vocational schools medal with Westmeath.

Har played in the Dublin championship for the Air Corps, with his performances coming to the notice of officials from his native Offaly.

Donnelly went on to play a starring role in the first Offaly team to win a Leinster senior football title in 1960, when they beat Louth in the final.

Offaly overcame Dublin to retain their Leinster crown in 1961 and a win over Roscommon then set up an All-Ireland final clash with Down.

Having defeated Offaly in the 1960 All-Ireland semi-final (after a replay), the Mourne men claimed a narrow win in that storied '61 final. This final attracted a recorded attendance of 90,556, believed to be the largest ever at a sporting event in Ireland.

A renowned freetaker, Donnelly's scoring ability was vital to Offaly's breakthrough in the early 1960s.

The Offaly teams of 1960 and 1961 included such players as Peter Daly, Patsy Hughes, John Egan, Greg Hughes, Paddy McCormack, Peter Carey, Phil O'Reilly, Mick Casey, Charlie Wrenn, Sean Ryan, Sean Foran, Frank Higgins, Mick Brady, Willie Nolan, Tommy Greene, Donie Hanlon, Sean Brereton, Harry Donnelly, Larry Fox, Tommy Cullen.

The breakthrough they achieved laid the platform for future All-Ireland success, with Offaly winning their first All-Ireland senior title in 1971.

Although he lived in Arklow, Co. Wicklow for many years, Har never forgot his roots in Offaly.

Har Donnelly of Abbeyville, Arklow passed away peacefully last Thursday, February 4. Beloved husband of Sheila, he was the adored father of Ronald, Colm and Karen and much loved brother of Rita, Ann, Brendan and the late Syl.

In accordance with government guidelines, Har’s Requiem Mass was celebrated in private last Saturday, with burial afterwards in St Gabriel’s Cemetery, Arklow. May he rest in peace.