Donal Coleman (1962- 2008): A talented and successful handballer (By John Coleman

of poteen with all my exertions and the virulent stuff was scorching my skin like acid. There was a little still left in the bottle. I offered it to my helpers. One, the younger, refused. The other raised the bottle to his lips and drank a little very slowly with many grimaces. I tasted a sup of the stuff. It was vile. A burning soapy taste which almost roasted my tongue and gullet. I was almost smothered and spluttered and coughed as I tried to get my breath. Repairs were completed and we pushed the car off the improvised “jack”. I thanked our pair of helpers, who dallied watching the whole proceedings curiously, then we rattled on once more, McGurk still oblivious to the world. We reached Raphoe that Friday afternoon without further mishap.

I did not even wait up to eat, but peeled off my clothes and threw myself into bed at Stoney’s mansion, our Divisional H.Q. I did not wake until 3 p.m. on Saturday, having slept soundly for almost 24 hours. I got up, dressed and went down to the kitchen for a feed. Sitting down to the table, I noticed the burnt brown patch on the upper part of the thigh of my pants – the grand suit which I had got earlier at Tadhg Lynch’s in Kinsale with my first month’s pay from Army H.Q. It was ruined by the spilt poteen. Then the thought struck me of what must have been its corrosive effect on my stomach and vitals when it scorched and rotted the Irish tweed in my trousers so badly. That scared me off drinking poteen for many a long day after. Ever since then, I have only sipped the stuff once or twice.

By John Coleman

My late brother was a very talented sportsman and excelled at handball, winning many Community Games Medals at County level and all Ireland bronze medals at the Tailteann Games and Community Games. After training for a period with the US Navy in Florida in his late teens he travelled widely in the USA where he unwisely experimented with illicit drugs which had a long term detrimental effect on his mental health. I have always been saddened when Ballymote Handball successes are celebrated and his name is never mentioned. The shame attached to mental illness is finally beginning to lift and I would like to pay tribute to Donal’s memory by illustrating a photograph of his many medals is testament to his achievements and demonstrably unfulfilled potential.