Donegal supporter dies in tragic accident
A 24-year-old man drowned in the Royal Canal returning home after celebrating Donegal’s win in the All-Ireland football semi-final.
Andrew Duffy fell into the water at Binns bridge in the Phibsboro area of north Dublin.
The accident happened last night at 11.45pm.
A Garda spokeswoman said a man was pulled from the water but later pronounced dead.
“A man appeared to have fallen into the canal. He was taken to the Mater Hospital where he was pronounced dead,” she said.
It is understood the man was a Gaelic football player with Termon GAA in north Donegal.
Joe McDaid, chairman of the Termon club, said it was a devastating loss for the team, village and county.
“It’s just a terrible tragedy for the area and the club to lose a man like Andrew,” he said.
“On behalf of the club, we just want to extend our sympathies to the Duffy family.”
Mr Duffy had been in Croke Park to watch Donegal beat Cork and secure a place in the All-Ireland final for the first time in 20 years.
He had been staying with a friend in Dublin.
The highly regarded player was on the Termon team that won the All-Ireland Junior Gaeltacht title in June. He normally played for the club’s senior side.
Mr McDaid added: “Andrew was just a great, great young fellow, and footballer. He was committed to everything that he did and just an all-round good fellow.”
Jim McDaid, a doctor in Letterkenny and a former TD who knows the Duffy family, said the man only decided to stay in Dublin for the night after the victory.
“It was a great day for Donegal and young men being young men they decided they were going to stay,” he told Highland Radio.
“They were on their way home last night when he tripped and fell into the canal.
“It is a tragedy and my sympathy goes to his family that we know well.”
A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out today before Mr Duffy’s body is taken back to Donegal.
