Death of Norman Donnellan of Navan accountancy firm

WIDESPREAD regret has been occasioned by the death of Navan accountant, Norman Donnellan, (48), Johnstown, a partner in the firm of Fagan, Lynch and Donnellan, Newbridge House, Athlumney. Mr Donnellan worked with the firm for the past thirty years.

A native of French Lane, Stackallen, deceased was educated at Stackallen National School, St. Patrick's Classical School, Navan and Maynooth College.

The former Oliver Freaney and Co accountancy firm recruited him from Maynooth in 1977. He served his articles with this firm which became Fagan Lynch and Co in 1986,  qualifying  as an accountant around 1982.  He was made a partner in the firm in 1988.

His death has caused a huge sense of loss not just in the accountancy profession but also for business people and in sporting circles.

Mr Donnellan played for several years for the Rathkenny Gaelic Football club. He won a Meath junior championship with the club in 1984. In more recent times, he became involved with the Walterstown Club, where he worked with the juvenile players and was coach to the Walterstown ladies' team.

He was also a well-known soccer player, having played both with the Stackallen club and for Rathkenny Rovers.  He was a great supporter of the Irish soccer team and of Meath football teams.

Mr Donnellan also was popular in tennis circles having played both in Stackallen and Fitzwilliam Tennis Clubs. As a juvenile tennis player, he competed in national tournaments in Fitzwilliam.

An all-round sports enthusiast and talented participant, Mr Donnellan also was known as a brilliant golfer with Royal Tara Golf Club.

His wife, Carmel, a member of the Stafford family, Johnstown, by whom he is survived is manager of Drogheda Credit Union. They met when she was serving her articles with his Navan accountancy firm before qualifying as an accountant.

He is survived also by his daughter, Julie (16) son David (14); parents, Patrick and Christine Donnellan; brothers, Brendan, Declan and Maurice; sister, Mary; mother-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

The removal takes place today (Wednesday) from the family home in Johnstown at 12.15pm for Mass in the Church of the Nativity, Johnstown at 1pm. The burial takes place to Old Kilcarn Cemetery.