ANYONE fortunate enough to spend some time in Jimmy Donnelly's company would quickly realise Ireland's second city lost something precious when Belfast Celtic went out of business.
The attacking 'half-back' played two seasons for the club that was wound up in 1949 after an infamous riot during a game against Linfield at Windsor Park. Now Jimmy has gone too; he passed away on Thursday night aged 87 and he'll be missed. An accountant by profession, he was an engaging character, who was full of stories about Belfast's 'grand old team' - the players, the goals and the glory.
Padraig Coyle, chairman of the Belfast Celtic Society described him as someone who left "a deep and lasting impression on all who met him". There's no doubt about that.
His association with the club began in 1948 when he scored twice for the reserves in a friendly against Ballymena and manager Elisha Scott signed him up. He recalled: "He [Scott] said to me 'if you are a good player and of good character, we'll sign you'. I ticked both boxes."
After Celtic folded, Jimmy, who captained Antrim's minor hurlers in two All-Ireland semi-finals, rejected a switch to Crusaders and went on to star for Longford Town. But he returned to his Belfast roots and became one of the custodians of Celtic's history and a founder member of the Belfast Celtic Society.
Always a popular figure at Society events, Jimmy would recall with great accuracy the stories and lore of Belfast Celtic and loved to pass on the names of the club's greatest players to younger audiences. One of his most recent engagements with the Belfast Celtic Society was participating in the Road to Paradise Inter-generational Outreach Programme, funded by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, which helped pass the story of the club to children and young people.
In 2001, he was among the Belfast Celtic legends who were feted on the pitch at Celtic Park in Glasgow by then manager Martin O'Neill, who brought the old stars to enjoy the celebrations of the Glasgow Bhoys' treble-winning season.
Jimmy helped keep the Society on an even keel and did sterling work tracing the graves of former players and figures associated with the club, which were dotted across Belfast.
After his playing career came to an end, he was a respected scout and was also a member of O'Donovan Rossa GAC in west Belfast. Until recently, he had been immersed in the preparations for the club's centenary year, gathering artefacts and contacting former players and officials.
Padraig Coyle said: "There will be few members of our society who did not come across Jimmy Donnelly at some stage and our deep condolences are with his family.
"Jimmy was a founder member of the Society and served as honorary vice-president for many years, leaving a deep and lasting impression with all who met him. He more than most was responsible for keeping the name Belfast Celtic alive in the dark years of the '70s and '80s and he was heavily involved in the reunion galas in 1989 and 1991.
"He appeared on radio and television frequently to talk about Belfast Celtic and, only last summer, he was instrumental in The Irish News producing a 12-page supplement on the history of the 'Grand Old Team'.
"At this sad time, our thoughts are with the Donnelly circle and we urge all Society members to attend his funeral once the details are announced."
