Donal O’Regan was widely admired for his charity fund-raising abilities

THE life of a man who made an extraordinary contribution to Island life is being celebrated and remembered in Jersey.

Donal O’Regan, a former president of the Jersey-Irish Society, Jersey’s own ‘Terry Wogan’ and Knight of St Columba, who was widely known and respected for his colourful character, generous heart, integrity and Irish charm, died last month at the age of 81.

Born on 9 March 1928 in Buttevant, County Cork, Mr O’Regan was a talented trumpet player and had his own dance band, known as the Donal O’Regan Orchestra, as well as his own electrical shop.

He joined the Irish defence force Forsa Cosanta Aitúil, the equivalent of the Territorial Army in Ireland, and reached the rank of sergeant.

Eventually he caught the eye of young teacher Patricia Joyce and they married in Limerick in 1962.

Having trained and qualified as a teacher in England, Mrs O’Regan was unable to teach in Ireland, not being a Gaelic speaker, so they decided to move to Jersey, where her mother had been educated. Mr O’Regan sold his business in Ireland and they moved to the Island in 1966 with their two young sons, Seán and Dermot, and very soon became immersed in the Island’s motor trade industry, where he cemented his reputation for integrity and charm.

The young married couple entered fully into the life of the Catholic community in Jersey. Mr O’Regan joined the Knights of St Columba, in Council 229, in 1968 and Mrs O’Regan joined the Catholic Women’s League.

With the arrival of their daughter, Anne, they decided that the Island of Jersey was to be their permanent home. Mrs O’Regan later went onto become head teacher at St Mary’s School.

Mr O’Regan was very much part of Island life and it was for his energy and the dedication that he gave to charitable causes that he will be most remembered.

He was one of the original presenters on the local Hospital radio, Radio Lions – one being described as their very own Terry Wogan – presenting a weekly show for 12 years which also featured on BBC Radio Jersey. He was also a stalwart member of the Jersey-Irish Society, eventually becoming its president.

Mr O’Regan was an enthusiastic and effective supporter of many Island charities and his fund-raising skills were legendary. Over the years he was instrumental in raising thousands of pounds for The Little Sisters of the Poor, among other charities. In later life he became a committee member of the Jersey branch of Age Concern.

As a Knight of St Columba, he served three terms as Grand Knight representing his council many times before becoming the second Provincial Grand Knight in the Channel Islands. During the troubled times in Northern Ireland he was a prime mover in bringing groups of mixed Catholic and Protestant youngsters for holidays in Jersey.

He lived le chéile, which means together in Irish and is the slogan of the Jersey-Irish Society, of which he was a pivotal and influential member throughout its existence.

In recent years ill health caught up with Mr O’Regan and he moved to a nursing home just before Christmas 2009, being visited regularly by members of his devoted family, friends and brother Knights before passing away peacefully on 26 January.

Mr O’Regan is survived by his wife Pat, his children Seán, Dermot and Anne, daughter-in-law Nasima, son-in-law David and grandchildren Samir, Sufia, Elissa, Erin and Finley, and a great many devoted friends, to whom the JEP extends its sympathy.