Tributes to John Donlon

Members of Longford County Council have paid tribute to the late John Donlon from Newtowncashel, who played on the famous Longford football teams of 1966 and ‘68, and served two terms as a County Councillor for the Ballymahon area.

Leading the tributes, County Mayor Larry Bannon described Mr Donlon as a “legend” in his own right, and that he “brought honour and glory to Longford on the football field”.

Adding his voice to the series of glowing tributes, Cllr Barney Steele said that Mr Donlon was “a great footballer and an exceptional character who always made you feel good.”

Cllr Seán Farrell told the chamber he had known Mr Donlon for many years, saying he was a “great councillor” and that councillors who served at the time “served for the cause of public service”, before adding that his death meant “another link with that great team, that great era is broken”.

One council member who witnessed Mr Donlon’s exploits in Longford’s famous 1966 National Football League triumph was Cllr Denis Glennon. “It was my Leaving Cert year,” he recalled. “John Donlon showed his worth that day. It was a marvellous game but a tough, tough game.”

Cllr Glennon also revealed he later faced Mr Donlon on the football field, admitting that “you’d stay out of his way on the field because he took no prisoners!”