Deep sadness at passing of popular Athlonian

There was an outpouring of grief in the wider Athlone area on Thursday when news emerged of the passing of local man Davy Allen, at the age of just 42. Indelibly linked by many with Athlone GAA club, Davy, who lived in Cushla Downs, Monksland, played championship at every grade for the club winning many honours along the way. He appeared in goals last year for the Junior Football team for what would turn out to be his final appearance in the club colours. Recently, he was one of the main driving forces in the revival of under-age football in the club culminating in his finest hour last October, when the U-14 team he mentored since they were at under nine level captured the county championship for the first time in 22 years. This to add to the Westmeath Féile na n"g title they had won earlier in the year with him at the helm. Fittingly, a photo of Davy in his Féile tracksuit stood beside his coffin during the removal and funeral Mass this week. "He was Athlone to the core, a true clubman," Chairman of the Minor Board Davy O'Connell said in tribute. "He was so instrumental in the revival of underage football in Athlone and an absolutely massive worker for the club and, just an all-around good guy. He will be very sadly missed," he added. The club provided a guard of honour on both days and the huge turnout of young people was testament to Davy's massive popularity among the many players he coached down through the years. An outgoing figure, who loved a chat and laugh, Davy worked tirelessly for the club fundraising, going into the schools to promote GAA and organising and coaching teams and his passing has left a huge void in Athlone GAA circles. In the statement on the club website, Chairman of Athlone GAA club Paul Connellan said it was with great sadness that the club learned of the untimely passing of David Allen on Thursday morning. "Davy leaves behind his devoted wife Tara and adoring children Kayleigh and Shane and it is with them that our thoughts and prayers are at this tragic time." He said Davy served the club well, firstly as a player from a very young age, and more recently as a driving force in the revival of the underage scene culminating in his finest hour last October when the U14 team captured the county title for the first time in over two decades. This to add to the Westmeath Feile na nOg title they won earlier in the year with him as coach. "The sadness felt within that bunch of lads today is a testament to the fondness and respect that each and everyone of those players felt for Davy. He leaves a void in the club that will be impossible to fill." The other major constant in his life was his work as a soldier in Custume Barracks where he served as a member of the Defence Forces for 22 years, having enlisted on January 22, 1991. A well respected and universally popular individual, Pte Allen served in both the 6 Infantry Battalion as an Infantry Soldier and latterly in the 4 Logistics Battalion having qualified previously as a chef.