Media Library

News Releases

Statement from President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Donagh O’Donoghue

Date: Fri 4th Jun, 2021 | 09:32

News of the death of Donagh O’Donoghue will have been learned with great sadness by the many organisations in Galway and elsewhere, and above all by those relating to the arts and culture.

While Donagh will be missed most of all by Marcia and his family, the arts community in Galway, and in particular the Druid Theatre, have lost a founding and generous patron.

Donagh, Marcia and I started in UCG on the same day in 1962 and indeed the friendships made all through those years are ones that endured. He served with me on Comhairle na Macléinn, the Students’ Representative Council which preceded the Students Union in UCG. Active in many societies, for example, Donagh co-edited with me Criterion, the arts magazine. Donagh had a particular interest in DRAMSOC which no doubt led to his support from the beginning for the Druid Theatre Company. It is due to him and his family’s generosity that NUIG has a theatre linked to its theatre studies.   

He will be missed by so many, but above all by his friend from childhood, his wife Marcia.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis