Obituaries

It was truly a privilege to have known Damian and a great joy to have played in the successful 2nd team that he played in and led with such distinction. Great memories and a lot of laughs. Such a sad loss.

Ed Atwell

Frank called me Wednesday lunchtime, to let me know the sad news, which totally took the wind out of my sails. I was lucky to have Damian as my room mate while on that infamous Ealing & Benedict’s Barbarians tour (one of my favourite tours ever) in Rome! Damian & I often went together for warm, lazy long day walks around the beautiful city, especially along the much lower level banks of the Tiber river. Grabbing Pizza slices en-route.

I will remember Damian well as an unbelievably stoic rugby man, not just for Ealing, despite everything, NEVER giving in to his pain, or complaining about himself. We had some great fun & laughs together all over Rome including the Black Falcon with you & the boys.

I told the LIARFC Vet Boys last night & they passed on our club condolences. They flew out on Tour at 7am to Sofia, today.

Sadly I will see one & all again for much unhappier times of the funeral in Ealing Abbey.

Damian RIP will not be forgotten, & it is a tribute to him that the Ealing & London Irish clubs are so very close today.

Desmond O’Hara

2004: English Barbarians verus Roma and two other teams

2004: Party game, Juan’s 40th

2005: Dublin

Singing at an airport

2006: Rome versus Frascali

Evergreens Photos

I got to know Damian on the great Lourdes Tour just as we lost Martin Armstrong to the pearly gates. After his Senior playing career he became a stalwart of the Evergreens and was a great club man. Say hi to Martin for us all. We’ll form a new Ealing XV in due course “In the moonlight……..”

David Green

Like many who have already left their tributes below I too had the great pleasure of knowing Damian for many years, stretching back to the late 70’s in the Colts right through to playing in that now seemingly legendary Ex 1st XV which Damian so ably skippered and then more recently on the Exec Committee.

Damian was quite simply a great fella. And when he meets our Lord above he’ll be welcomed in with open arms..mainly cos he’s related..how’s that then?  Well on the reccie for the 2003 Irish Minis & Youth Tour when checking in at Shannon Airport for our flight home, the Aer Lingus check in desk lady let slip in a rather tongue tied way that his name is really Damian Bejaysus!  Oh how we laughed – top memories and stories about a top man – God bless you Damian!

Les O’Gorman

A genuinely nice guy! Too many laughs that are stored with pleasure in my memory. He shared my “sensitive” sense of humour and like me he will never know why Toolan couldn’t leave doughnut munchers alone! Taken from us much too soon.I am confident his memory will be a blessing to all who knew him. Gutted.

2004: London Clubs tournament. Norm, Damian, Bill

2004: Rome2004: Rome

Norman Bloom

Whether captain of the Old Boys, the 2nd team or on tour, I always looked down to Damian. A lovely bloke with a big heart, who always managed to come away with the ball or two, much to the annoyance of the opposition. My condolences to his family, I will miss you mate ! R.I.P.

Frank McHale

I was very sad to hear the news about Damian. I first met him when I first joined the Colts team run by Dave Inwood and Stuart Laird in 1977. I remember that he was the first person to buy me a beer at the club. I know that it’s a small thing but it made a big impression on me at the time and was typical of him. He was a lovely bloke who had time for everyone. He was also a terrific rugby player who seemed to know no fear on the rugby pitch or on tour. He was the first ex-Colt to make the first team, where he played with distinction for many years. He was also an inspiring captain and great to play for when he led the second team. I am not surprised, given his input, that the minis have done so well.

It was a privilege to have known Damian and to have played rugby with him. As Piers says, he represented everything that is great about the game of rugby football.

John Critchfield

I echo all that’s been said about Damian – a big character and a great man who no one has ever had a bad word to say about him. I never saw him down or grumbling about his condition, so brave.

James Carlin

I was privileged to play rugby with Damian, although he was a far better player than me, so he played for the firsts and then dropped me from the seconds. A wise man, as well as a great bloke. I am really sorry that I cannot attend the funeral mass, but I will raise a glass to him and think of him. My condolences to his family. We shall miss him.

Phil Dorgan