Beara and Cork GAA mourns passing of legendary Donal 'Butcher' O'Sullivan

Castletownbere man led Beara to historic Cork title and also trained Cork minor footballers

Donal O'Sullivan, who managed the Cork minor footballers in 2014 and 2015. Pic: James Crombie

'He was our north star, our everything," Ollie 'Rue' O'Sullivan lamented. He should know. If the Garnish man skippered Beara's never-to-be-forgotten Cork SFC success in 1997, the manager Donal 'Butcher' O'Sullivan was the figurehead in every sense.

"Whether it was Ciarán, Brendan Jer, myself (all O'Sullivans), he was always watching out for us, keeping us between the white lines. He was a father figure to us but in west Cork GAA terms, he was a giant and a gentleman," Ollie Rue said.

'The Butcher' as he was universally known, passed on Tuesday, the eve of Christmas Eve, after a short illness. It isn't just the Beara peninsula that will mourn his passing and recount his bountiful deeds for club, division and county. 

The Castletownbere man had a stellar career in management with Beara. He was the manager of the winning divisional minor team in 2003 and Under 21s in 2006 but his annus mirabilis came a decade or so earlier when he piloted the division to its first Cork SFC title in 30 years, defeating west Cork rivals Castlehaven after a pair of epic struggles. "A day and a game that will live long in the memories of Beara people," added Joe Blake, the former Cork GAA PRO and now Munster Council delegate.

O'Sullivan went on to serve as a Cork minor selector under Brian Cuthbert when the county reached the All Ireland final in 2010. He was also Cork minor manager himself in 2014 and 2015.

He wasn't actually a butcher by trade but the assistant manager of Castletownbere Fisherman’s Co-Op, a position he held up to his retirement. Nevertheless he came from a strong family background in the trade. Donal's nephew Andrew O'Sullivan, who captained Cork to an U21 All-Ireland in 2007, is known locally as 'Andrew Butcher. His brother Ollie 'Butcher' managed the local Castletownbere side who lost the Cork IFC final the same year Beara won senior in '97.

Donal O'Sullivan is survived by his wife Aishling, their children Cormac and Niamh. Donal also had one grandchild.