Northern Ireland

Don Allen described as a man of 'dedication'

Requiem Mass for Don Allen was held at St Colmcille's Church in Holywood, Co Down, yesterday. Picture by Mal McCann.
Requiem Mass for Don Allen was held at St Colmcille's Church in Holywood, Co Down, yesterday. Picture by Mal McCann. Requiem Mass for Don Allen was held at St Colmcille's Church in Holywood, Co Down, yesterday. Picture by Mal McCann.

Former Sports Council chair Don Allen has been described as a man who was dedicated to his family, work and community.

Due to Coronavirus restrictions only close family members gathered at St Colmcille's Church in Holywood yesterday for his Requiem Mass.

Originally from west Belfast, the father-of-three died at home on March 19, aged 81.

Parish priest Fr Stephen McBrearty said it was an “honour” for him to celebrate Mr Allen's Requiem Mass.

He added that after coming to the Co Down parish he came to know Mr Allen “and to know the journey that he had made”.

“The wonderful dedication that he had towards his wife, you Rosaline and to you Julie, Debbie and Diane but also his dedication in his work, his dedication to our community, his immense dedication to this parish,” he said.

“It was total dedication to God, that we know and his great saint - St Joseph - the spouse of Mary."

He said that Mr Allen, who died on the feast day of St Joseph, “is in heaven and he is looking down on us with all the past parishioners that he has known from this parish that have departed us”.

During her eulogy his daughter Debbie said he was one of eight children who was proud to have grown up on the Falls Road.

In his youth her father was a keen sportsman who played table tennis, soccer, Gaelic football, hurling, athletics and golf.

In 1957 he had a trial with Sunderland Football Club before returning to the north to be signed by Ards Football Club.

He went on the have spells with Distillery and Cliftonville.

He was a former captain at Holywood Golf Club and later served as president.

He took up his role as chair of the sports council in 1990 and his daughter said that one of his “proudest achievements was being instrumental in bringing the Odyssey Arena to Belfast”.

He suffered a major stroke in 2000 which left him with paralysis in his left arm and limited movement in his left leg.

Despite the obstacles he faced he went to play one armed golf, passed a test to drive an adapted car and frequently attended the gym.

She said her father called the years after his stroke his “second life”.

“Dad was truly devoted to his family, his friends and family were the most important thing to him,” she said.

Mr Allen's remains were interred at Redburn Cemetery, Holywood.