The news of the death of Seamus O Donnell, Knockglossmore, Camp on Saturday 23rd. September was met with deep shock and sadnessin Camp and West Kerry. And Seamus was to pass to his eternal reward on the occasion of Comóradh Tomás Ághas, 1916 patriot and hero whom Seamus held in very high esteem.
He began his working career in the forestry division and that love of nature and the environment was to remain with him all of his life. Later Seamus was a teacher at Killorglin Community College, where he is fondly remembered by past students and fellow teachers and who were there on Tuesday at his funeral Mass forming a guard of honour outside St. Marys Church Camp as a mark of respect to their former colleague. They were among the hundreds who attended the funeral on both days and who walked with Seamus on his final journey to Ballinknockane Cemetary Camp where following the requiem Mass Muiris O Scanlán and Pádraig Ó Moráin led the choir singing “ the lovely Irish song, Mo Ghille Mear, translation, My Gallant Friend and Seamus was indeed a friend to many and a man of language, culture and education. Seamus was a committed community man too, Chairman of Camp Community Council in the early years and active in Muintir na Tíre at local and National level promoting self help and community development in rural Ireland.
Fr. Jim Sheehy assisted by Fr. Gearóid Godley, Fr. Francis Nolan, Fr. Joe Begley and Canon Tom Looney officiated at the celebration of the Requiem Mass on Tuesday and following a sermon delivered from the heart, Fr. Jim summed it all up so beautifully in a final tribute to his good friend, “Seamus was a man of many parts” and all of us who knew Seamus O Donnell will certainly agree on that sentiment ! Séamus, Ní Bheid do leithéid arís ann. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. Seamus is survived by his wife Sheila, son, Jamie, daughters, Kate and Molly, sister, Kathleen, brothers, Joe, Alex and Paudie, grandchildren, Adam and Aoibheann, nieces, nephews and extended family and many friends to whom sympathy is extended. His daughter Julie predeceased him. R.I.P.