We are sad to report that Donal passed away on 30 March 2023, at the age of 83 after a short illness in hospital. He had been in a care home, suffering from Vascular Dementia, for 15 months.
He leaves his wife of 55 years, Nollaig, their 4 sons, and 8 grandchildren. A long standing SRFC club supporter since he moved across the road in 1972, Donal and his boys enjoyed many visits; to play mini-Rugby, support Stourbridge, and watch England train here as they used to before professional Rugby: signatures of Bill Beaumont, Rob Andrew, the Underwood brothers et al. were all collected. It has been a great sadness that he was unable to enjoy Ireland's rise to World Number 1 and this year's Grand Slam win because of his Dementia.
Donal was a "rugby man" who grew up in Ireland following the Cork Constitution Club and Munster province. On moving to England in 1966 he was a regular attendee at 5 then 6 Nations games in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Twickenham, as well as many Saturday afternoons at Stourbridge, whom he loved seeing progress. He was particularly proud of getting his childhood friend, the great Tommy Kiernan, to come to speak at the Rugby Club twice about his time as an Ireland & Lions player, coach and later World Rugby administrator.

A Requiem Mass will be held at 3pm on Tuesday 18 April, at Our Lady & All Saints R.C. Church, 13 New Road, Stourbridge DY8 1PQ.
There will be a reception afterwards at SRFC.

The Committee, Club Members and Staff extend their sympathies to Nollaig and family.