The community of Oranmore has been stunned by the death of talented young sportsman Donal (Donie ) Greene.
The 22-year-old, well known and highly-respected in his local community and wider sporting circles, was missing for a week before his body was found in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.
Donie was a talented sportsman who excelled in both Gaelic football and basketball.
A member of Maree Basketball Club from childhood, he progressed through the underage ranks, winning many county titles, and also starred for Calasanctius College Oranmore in the u-19A All-Ireland Cup and League wins.
He featured on Maree teams that won u-18 and u-20 National Cup titles, and last season was on the Maree teams that won the National League division one title and then took the Galway men’s division 1 league.
His leadership skills were acknowledged in his captaincy of the Galway County winning u-21 Gaelic football team from Oranmore-Maree GAA Club, of which his parents Sean and Betty are long-standing members.
A tribute from the club says “only four weeks ago Donie was the toast of Oranmore and Maree as he carried the county u-21 cup to a packed banquet hall at our victory social. Nobody could have imagined what was around the corner.
“Donie will be remembered for his talent as a footballer, an excellent basketballer, his attitude, his dedication to everything he did, his unerring love for his family and friends, but even more so for his personality.”
Maree Basketball Club says: “Donie Greene was loved and respected by all in Maree Basketball Club, a great team-mate, always there for his countless friends in the club. Despite his many accomplishments, his career was just beginning.”
Donie went missing on the morning he was due to line out for Maree Basketball Club in a local derby clash with Moycullen in the National League division one, and hundreds of friends from Galway travelled to Cavan to take part in the search.
Donie is survived by his mother and father, Betty and Sean, and brothers Ciarán and Dáire.
Ar dheis de go raibh se.
