BILLY Donagher was a perfect gentleman, universally liked in the community around Belleek and Ballyshannon on the Donegal/Fermanagh border.
Born in Corlea, just over a mile on the southern side of the border, his mother Beezy (Bridget) was a member of the McGonigle family of Belleek who married William Donagher from Corlea.
Billy was a talented Gaelic footballer in his day, playing on the Corlea team, for the Young Emmets club in Belleek and finally with Ballyshannon.
One of his teammates in Belleek was his good friend the late Edward Daly, former Bishop of Derry.
Despite losing his sight some years ago, Billy continued to follow all the big matches especially when Donegal were playing and winning titles.
A close second favourite team was Fermanagh.
Every Monday when he had visits from his friends the matches were fully discussed.
Since Billy's passing, messages have come from around the world to pay tribute to this kind and compassionate man.
It is remarkable that such a quiet and humble person should be remembered by people from so far away.
They included Chuck Singer, formerly of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who was one of the survivors when a Sunderland Flying Boat crashed near Breesy mountain on a Saturday morning in August 1944.
Billy had been working nearby in the bog and rushed to the scene to help the injured.
When Chuck, who had been stationed at Castle Archdale near Irvinestown, returned to Ireland in 2002 to visit the scene again he met Billy and they exchanged memories of the tragedy, which seriously injured the young Canadian and claimed the lives of three crew members.
Chuck, now 96, expressed his sorrow at Billy's passing and fondly recalled their meeting.
The site of the crash has been marked by a permanent memorial stone.
A forestry worker most of his life, Billy was also instrumental in pin-pointing the site of an altar Mass rock near his Corlea home which is now marked by an engraved stone.
In recent years he received exceptional care after being admitted to the Sheil Hospital in Ballyshannon, with Celine and PJ giving him great comfort.
An ordinary man with exceptional talents, Billy passed away aged 88 on February 12 and was laid to rest alongside his wife Bell in St Patrick's Cemetery, Belleek.
Joe O'Loughlin and Patsy McCauley