TRAGEDY…Boho native Jim Kelly
A popular farmer, from Irvinestown, who had a holiday home in Bundoran and stayed there regularly, drowned last week in the sea following a cliff-top fall early on Friday morning last.
There is speculation that the deceased, Jim Kelly (73) might have had a dizzy spell that caused him to fall, having taken a weak turn in his local Sacred Heart Church about a month ago.
He was married to Margaret (nee McQuillan, Enniskillen) and was the father of two, James (Jimmy) and Roise, a dentist in Australia.
The alarm was raised just after at 10am by a member of the public who contacted the Garda. The body was then recovered from the sea near a scenic cliff-top route known as The Nun’s Walk, at the west end of Bundoran.
The body was fully clothed. As the body was found on the rocks, the RNLI were not requested to attend.
A Garda spokesman told the Herald that the primary findings of the postmortem report suggested death by drowning.
And, because there was nothing suspicious in relation to the post mortem results, Mr Kelly’s body was released.
“We believe that Mr Kelly died as a result of a tragic accident. The accident occurred at Magheracar, Bundoran.
“We received a call from a member of the public and, at that stage, the body was in the water.
“It was removed and brought to Sligo General Hospital where the Coroner performed a post mortem.
“The body was identified that day. It was recovered from the sea near the cliff walk.”
The Garda spokesman confirmed that Mr Kelly was on his own at the time.
The parish priest of Irvinestown, Fr Michael McGourty said Mr Kelly had a holiday home in Bundoran and he had gone there to stay in it for a few days.
He commented: “The community here is stunned by the loss. Jim got a dizzy spell in the church here about
a month ago, and the ambulance had to be called to take him to hospital.
“His family and friends are wondering if a similar incident happened when he was on a cliff top walk in Bundoran.”
Mr Kelly’s remains were removed from a Ballyhannon funeral home on Monday evening and brought to his late home at Bush Hill in the townland of Moynaghan North, Irvinestown.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11o’clock this morning, Wednesday in the Sacred Heart Church, Irvinestown.
The burial will take place in Boho, where the deceased was born.
The death is a second blow to the family. Just over six weeks ago, his mother-in-law, Sarah McQuillan
died.
Although farming was his life, Mr Kelly and his wife at one time ran a couple of pubs, the East End Bar, Fintona and The Sound of Music, Belcoo.
However, farming was in his blood and he purchased the farm at Bush Hill where he ran a suckler herd.
He was a devoted husband and father and was extremely popular. Outside of family and farm, he enjoyed Bundoran.
In addition to his wife, son and daughter, Mr Kelly is immediately survived by his brother, John, Farnaconnell, Boho and three sisters, Maureen and Anne, both Ballyconnell and Helen, Leeds.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere