DAMIEN HAYES HAS delivered a moving tribute to his former Galway hurling teammate Niall Donohue, describing the young Kilbeacanty man’s death as ‘an unbelievable shock’ that he never envisaged.
Donohue tragically took his own life last October and Hayes has spoken out for the first time about how the loss shocked the hurling community in the county.
“It was an unbelievable tragedy. I remember being told at a club training session on the Friday and I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t see it coming for Niall. I always thought he was unbelievably happy and always messing.
“It was an unbelievable shock. It’s very, very sad. He was an absolutely lovely fella and a real character. He was really bubbly with great one-liners and just a great laugh. It’s an awful loss to be honest.”
Hayes and Donohue both lined out together on the Galway team that reached the 2012 All-Ireland final. Last season neither was able to grab a starting place and Hayes revealed they forged a closer relationship as a result.
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“I had got to know him better in 2013 than I had in 2012 because neither of the two of us could seem to get on the team.
“So when the team would be having their talk in one room in Croke Park before a match you’d be in the other room. I got chatting to him better then and it’s just an unbelievable tragedy.”
Hayes will be in action for Portumna in their upcoming AIB All-Ireland senior hurling club semi-final. Their passage to that stage was secured when they won the Galway final against Loughrea last October, victory arriving the day after Donohue’s funeral. Hayes revealed it was a hugely difficult period.
“The match was meant to be played on the Sunday and next of all it wasn’t. We were burying Niall, Lord have mercy on him, and we were doing a guard of honour. It was a long, hard day. We were all in Kilbeacanty together at 12 o’clock and I didn’t return home until seven o’clock when it was all over.
“I remember when we laid Niall to rest, I happened to be standing beside a man who said – ‘God, Damien, it won’t be easy to hurl tomorrow’. You were going into a county final after burying one of your team-mates, one of your county colleagues and one of your friends.
“It was difficult. You had your minute’s silence and you said your prayer to him before the match. You just had to get on with it, as simple as that, but it wasn’t easy.”
Hayes is currently focused on club commitments but he will link up with the Galway panel again when that campaign concludes. The loss of Donohue will be on their minds.
“Anthony (Cunningham) had a meeting with us and we only had a small brief chat about it just to say hopefully that this might spur us on a little bit.
“When you go back in, it’ll still be hard. We all returned to Kilbeacanty for Niall’s month’s mind. I’ve spoken to his dad Francie and I’ve spoken to his brother as well. It’s not easy times.”
It is time funding was put in place for suicide awareness got proper funding from the state, at least twice as many people die from suicide than on our roads, yet we have massive funding trying to get speeders and drinks drivers to obey the law
The issue of a man discussing any sort of problem related to mental health was until recently taboo. I don’t know if it was only an irish state of mind or if it is spread across other countries.
Thankfully some fairly high profile stars have come out recently speaking of their fight with depression and various other mental health issues.
Whether you be a man woman or child reading this, do not suffer in silence. A problem shared is a problem halved.
When most young lads dream of playing for their county and been a star that its the pinnacle, but still behind it is this sadness and which leads to suicide.
Still makes me incredibly sad to read this story.
The warning signs were there for this young man in previous years from what I know. He had sought help. But depression is an insidious beast and cuts the strongest of us down. This poor young man has found peace. In time I hope his family come to find it as well.
Exactly Jason, its a disease and you can’t tell anyone to “cop on, your parents, friends etc will miss u” doesn’t fix it as it doesn’t fix any disease.
He had a lot of underlying issues.
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Tragic. Not afraid to say I had some serious “issues” when I was younger but thankfully I got the help I needed.
Not easy but I’m still here, healthy and happy…
Its ok not to be ok.
Young men need to start speaking up to prevent anymore future or current stars losing their own battles.
A tragic loss.
It is time funding was put in place for suicide awareness got proper funding from the state, at least twice as many people die from suicide than on our roads, yet we have massive funding trying to get speeders and drinks drivers to obey the law
That’s the trouble with suicide, it’s horribly unpredictable buisness, sad story
The issue of a man discussing any sort of problem related to mental health was until recently taboo. I don’t know if it was only an irish state of mind or if it is spread across other countries.
Thankfully some fairly high profile stars have come out recently speaking of their fight with depression and various other mental health issues.
Whether you be a man woman or child reading this, do not suffer in silence. A problem shared is a problem halved.
When most young lads dream of playing for their county and been a star that its the pinnacle, but still behind it is this sadness and which leads to suicide.
Still makes me incredibly sad to read this story.
The warning signs were there for this young man in previous years from what I know. He had sought help. But depression is an insidious beast and cuts the strongest of us down. This poor young man has found peace. In time I hope his family come to find it as well.
Exactly Jason, its a disease and you can’t tell anyone to “cop on, your parents, friends etc will miss u” doesn’t fix it as it doesn’t fix any disease.
He had a lot of underlying issues.
RIP
Well said Damien. Best of luck in next match
Sad