"Absolute gentleman": Tributes to Drum stalwart Donal Kealey
From conductor to long-serving driver, the Gortnaghey native is remembered fondly across the wider Derry and Dungiven areas
Tributes have been paid to the well-known former bus man and ‘stalwart’ of St. Colm’s GAC, Drum, Donal Kealey who has been described as an ‘absolute gentleman’ following his sad passing recently.
Mr. Kealey who was originally from the Gortnaghey area and never forgot those roots died peacefully abroad at the age of 80 years on July 17.
His beloved Drum, with whom he was a Junior Championship-winning footballer and a senior office holder for more than half a century, led tributes.
"Donal played football for the club and was part of the historic 1973 team that won the club its very first Championship.
“Not only a player he was an honorary president of the club. He was a committee member, fulfilling many roles right up until a few years ago when he was still helping to collect the lotto,” the club stated.
Mr. Kealey was respected as a lynchpin of the local community in the wider Dungiven area and one of his enduring legacies is the Drum club crest, which he designed and features the oak, a Celtic cross and the dove of St. Colm.
"A very proud Drum man, Donal designed the crest we now wear that identifies us not only as a club but as a community.
“At the bottom of our crest he included our motto, ‘Ár gcuid agus ár gcuideachta’, meaning, ‘Our bit and our people’.
“He told me once that this was added to include the idea that club is for the community, built by the community,” the tribute continued.
Donal spent 44 years working on the buses in the wider Derry area.
He started off as a conductor but later became a full time driver and in that capacity ferried several generations of passengers and school pupils across the city and district.
His career with Ulsterbus and Translink was largely hassle free but for a hijacking in Creggan in 1970, a vocational hazard of the day.
He retired from the buses aged 65 in 2011.
Donal is mourned by his wife Veronica, his children Anne (John) Ciaran (Louise) Miriam (Sean Marty) Seamus (Michal) Sinead (Stephen) and Enda (Ciara).
Beloved Granda of Ciara, Eoin, Senan, Emmet, Annie, Seth, Nábla, Joel, Máirín, Pádraig, Crónán, Eimear and Éabha. Son of the late Mary and Arthur RIP. Loving brother of Brigid McQuaide, Mary Rose Slevin, Arthur, Colm, Anthony and the late Sarah Carten, Lucy Carton RIP. Deeply regretted by the entire family circle.
His family are being assisted by the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust to repatriate his remains to his home at Glenroe Park in Dungiven .
Donal’s wake will take place on Thursday, July 30 from 12 noon and Friday, July 31 from 12 noon.
Funeral on Saturday, August 1 2026 leaving his late home at 9.10am for 10,00am Requiem Mass in The Church Of The Immaculate Conception, Gortnaghey. Interment immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
"He was an absolute gentleman and his presence was always so unassuming that he never once would have thought of himself to be the huge part of our club that he is.
“Many will know and remember him from his time driving the Ulster buses, but we will remember him for everything he gave to us, especially our crest which will forever be a symbol of his contribution and his legacy at the club.
"We ask you to keep in your thoughts and pray for his wife Veronica, children Anne, Ciaran, Miriam, Seamus, Sinead and Enda their partners and Donal’s grandchildren and all of the Kealey Family circle.
"Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí air. Ár gcuid agus ár gcuideachta,” the Drum tribute ended.