Obituary: Donal Musgrave’s gift will live long after him

Donal Musgrave August 13, 1942 – December 26, 2020

Late journalist and keen salmon fisherman Donal Musgrave in his garden on the banks of his own lovely Lee. Picture: Michael Mac Sweeney

When Donal Musgrave, who died on St Stephen’s Night aged 78 after a long, difficult illness, began his career in journalism, John F Kennedy’s Camelot was in its pomp. 

Hope was in the air and not just in America. When Donal finally walked away from his keyboard a few years ago, Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago had replaced Kennedy’s Camelot. Donal, an eternal optimist, would point out, though, that hope has been renewed as Joe Biden will be US president in a few weeks.