Glinsk’s John Dowd remembered fondly as event raises more than €30k for Hospice
The late John Dowd was one of a kind. A central figure in the tight knit community of Glinsk in Co Galway, he was a friendly and familiar face behind the counter in the local grocery and hardware store, and was something of an institution when it came to Glinsk GAA Club.
John was loved and respected across the community and beyond and so, when a fundraiser was organised in his honour last year, friends and family dug deep and raised a phenomenal €32,785 for Hospice. Of this, €5,000 was presented to the Irish Hospice Foundation at a recent ceremony in Glinsk, with an impressive €27,785 presented to Martina Jennings, CEO of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation.
In early May 2024, John passed away peacefully at Roscommon Hospice. Across almost two decades, he had bravely fought a number of illnesses, never letting his battle get him down. He wasn’t one to complain, and always had a smile and a kind word for customers in the family business. Of course, John was much more than just a shopkeeper. A friend to all and a counsellor to many, Dowd’s Stores has long been a meeting place in Glinsk, and the home of local news.
Throughout his life, John was heavily involved across all aspects of Glinsk GAA Club, from player to manager, and from officer to sponsor. He first donned the jersey in 1968 as a member of the Juvenile team that qualified for the County Quarter Final. He went on to play U-16, Minor, U-21 and Junior with the Club, captaining the Minor team in 1971 when Glinsk won the County Minor Final. He was also a member of the successful Glinsk/Creggs U-21 team in 1971 – arguably the greatest ever year in the history of GAA in the parish.
John also won a County Junior Championship medal in 1979 and League medals in ‘77 and ’78. He was a member of the first Glinsk team to win an adult title in Galway when Glinsk defeated Dunmore in the North Board League final in 1985, and also won a County Junior B Championship medal in 1991. Off the field, he was elected Chairman of the Club in 1997, overseeing the development of the pitch, the introduction of the Glinsk GAA Lotto and the on-field success of the Club’s Junior teams in 1998.
As well, he managed several underage teams over the years, and guided the Glinsk Minor team to the North Board League Final in 1997. He served both as a North Board and a Football Board delegate, and also represented the Club as a delegate to the Football Board Convention.
John was undoubtedly a community stalwart in Glinsk and when a group of seven local men – including his sons and nephews – decided to take part in Sea2Summit in November to raise funds in his memory, the support came thick and fast. Local man Aiden Brennan, who was central in organising the fundraising efforts on behalf of Glinsk GAA Club, said the group had an initial target of €7,000 – €1,000 each – but they quickly surpassed this.
“John was an incredible community man and a true Gael. He was hugely popular in Glinsk and indeed much further afield. The seven of us had already intended to take part in Sea2Summit in Westport last year, just for fun, but after John passed away – and knowing the incredible care he received at Roscommon Hospice – we decided to use the opportunity to raise funds for the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation,” he explained.
As well as Aiden, John’s sons Cathal and Fergal, and his nephews Tom Dowd and Jonathan Collins, were part of the seven-strong team. They were joined by their friends and clubmates Jason Fannon and Dermot Morgan. “We set up an online fundraising page and we couldn’t believe how fast the money came flooding in. During the first week, one person gave €1,000. The following week, there was another single donation of €3,000. It was incredible,” Aiden recalled.
“Everyone got behind us and it really took on a life of its own. At that stage, we figured we better start taking it seriously and actually start training towards the event!” he said with a smile.
In the weeks leading up to the Mayo adventure race, the Glinsk team put their hearts and souls into preparation and were raring to go by the time race day came around. “We had a brilliant day and really enjoyed the whole experience,” Aiden added.
What the lads didn’t know, however, was that they had their very own fan club at the finish line. “The Dowd family and lots of friends and people from around the community had travelled to Westport to support us. It was brilliant to see so many familiar faces as we crossed the finish line. It made the whole experience even more special,” he said.
At a ceremony in Glinsk in December, Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation’s CEO, Martina Jennings, was thrilled to accept the €27,785 cheque on behalf of the charity. She thanked the fundraisers and each and every person who supported their efforts, explaining exactly how funds are used in the organisation and just how important a service the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation provides across the two counties.
