‘You could not have met a nicer fella than Conal’

‘You could not have met a nicer fella than Conal’

15 August 2018

DUNDRUM is in mourning for 26 year-old Conal McKee who died suddenly in Florida. 

Conal’s body could be repatriated later today ahead of what is expected to be a widely attended funeral.

Funeral details for Conal, who died at West Boca Medical Centre in Florida on Saturday morning, have not yet been confirmed.

News first broke on August 3 to his family and friends in Dundrum that Conal, known locally as Con, was in a coma in hospital.

The close-knit community has been left in deep shock on learning of the untimely death of the young father-of-one and talented Gaelic footballer, who played for the local GAA club.

Yesterday Colin Bell of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust confirmed the charity is helping with the return of Conal’s body.

Conal is survived by his seven month-old son Danny, partner Kata Garcia, mother Deborah, stepfather Steven, sister Natasha and brother Niall.

His family in Dundrum are believed to have travelled to Florida to be by Conal’s beside before he passed. 

Conal had been living and working for the last three years in New York where he met his Columbian partner.

He worked as a barman at St Patrick’s Bar and Restaurant — the club bar of Shannon Celtic FC in Manhattan, for which Conal also played.

The young couple welcomed the birth of their first son in January and had recently moved to Miami for a better lifestyle as a family.

Conal attended St Patrick’s Grammar School in Downpatrick from 2003 where he shone in Gaelic football and soccer. 

A school statement described him “as a gentleman on and off the field” and added: “Conal wore the Red High and Dundrum GAC jerseys with pride and in recent years lined out for Shannon Celtic FC in NYC.”

St Patrick’s principal Joe McCann taught Religion to Conal for a number of years and said he had always been impressed by him.

“Conal was a universally popular student with an infectious personality that impacted positively on all around him,” he added.

“He was popular with both teachers and fellow students and the entire Red High family is shocked by his sudden passing.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time of great loss.”

The chairman of Dundrum GAA, Mark Fitzsimons, spoke movingly of the man he knew as a talented player and a close friend.

“You could not have met a nicer fella than Conal, he was full of energy, full of fun and always had a huge smile on his face.” said Mr Fitzsimons.

“He was an outstandingly great footballer, full of talent and enthusiasm and was on the team which helped us win the Down Junior Football Championship title in 2012.

“He also played several times for the senior team, as does his brother Niall. We at the club offer Niall, his parents our sincerest condolences.”

Conal’s partner, Kata, spoke lovingly of her partner to Belfast Live, describing him as her “handsome blue-eyed boy”.

She added he was “always with a smile in his face, with advice to give, with energy and a love for food.”

She remarked: ”Everyday was a new surprise with him, everyday something new but everyday I had the opportunity to see his big and beautiful smile.”

Dundrum United FC also posted a photo on Twitter of the team that played its first official match almost three years ago, which included Conal.

“We are saddened to learn of the loss of one of the team from that day, Conal McKee RIP,” the tweet added.

Friend David Campbell wrote on Facebook: “Too soon Conal, way too soon. You were one of the genuine good guys that everyone loved to be around.”

Tributes were also paid to the young father by local politicians.

South Down MP Chris Hazzard described him as “energetic and fun”.

“Everyone is shocked and saddened by Conal’s passing but I know there is a determination in the community to ensure his family receives all the support they need at this terrible time.”

Sinn Féin MLA Emma Rogan spoke of Conal’s great love of GAA.

“Any death, never mind of someone so young, is heartbreaking for any family,” she said.

“From talking to those who knew Conal, they’ve spoke of his great love of GAA.

“I hope that the whole Dundrum GAC family, as well as the whole Dundrum community, can rally behind Conal’s family in this their most difficult time.”

A fundraising appeal on the Go Fund Me site was set up last week to help the McKee family deal with the mounting medical bills.

• The Go Fund Me appeal currently stands just over at $19,000 (£15,000) and donations can be made via https://www.gofundme.com/vbkdnq-conal-mckee.