The Donegal Democrat/1930/Death of Mr Samuel O'Flaherty, B.A.

Death of Mr Samuel O'Flaherty, B.A.

We regret to anounce the death of Mr. Samuel O'Flaherty, B.A., late of the Donegal County Board of Health, which occurred on Thursday afternoon at his residence in Stranorlar.

Born some 35 years ago at Carrick, Castlefin, Mr. O'Flaherty was a member of a family highly respected throughout Donegal. He was of a stock which gave many sons to the Church and which was always well represented among the farming and business community of their native county.

On leaving the National School, Mr. O'Flaherty entered St. Columb's College, Derry, in 1908, where he read a distinguished course, and where he formed many friendships which were to last throughout his short and eventful career. In 1913 he proceeded to the University College, Dublin, During his University course there was no sphere of college life in which Sam O'Flaherty was a stranger. In the class room he was brilliant, on the football field he was a force to be reckoned with, in the social life of the College he was a friend genial and bright, while on the spiritual side many a studene in his inner herat gives thanks to Sam O'Flaherty for his encouragement and axample.

As a student of University College he was present at the inaugural meeting of the Irish Volunteers at the Rotunda, and he became a leader of that movement which was to have such an effect in National affairs and on his own subsequent career. he threw himself whole-heartedly into the fight for Irish freedom, and became Commandant of the East Donegal area in the fighting days, He was imprisoned in Lincoln Jail with De Valera, and there he had the same uplifting influence on his fellow-prisoners as he had on his fellow-students at the University. Even after his release he was in constant danger, being continually pursued by the British authorities. There can be no doubt that his early demise is the direct result of the hardships he suffered in prison and during the anxious years which followed his release.

He was elected to represent East Donegal in the Second Dail. During the debates on the Treaty he held that the measure of freedom offered did not satisfy the aspirations of the Irish people, and his principles would not permit him to vote for the Treaty. In the subsequent upheaval he took no part, as he could not engage in a contest which meant war with his fellow-Irishmen and former comrades.

On the resignation of Local Government in Ireland he was appointed Secretary to the Donegal Co. Board of Health. He entered on this work with the zeal which characterised the man. The many problems which naturally rose under the new system found a ready solution in his ever-active brain, so that the administration of the system in Donegal became a model for other counties, and earned the praised aligned Government officials, of the Co. Board of Health, and of the general public.

About a year ago the state of his began to give grave cause for anxiety. It was hoped that a period of rest would have made matters right, and leave of absence was granted him. He returned apparently recuperated, but two months ago his medical adviser saw that the troubled years had so undermined his constitution that there was no room for hop. He bore the virtual death sentence with a fortitude begot of a strong faith. He was ever resigned, and, though he must have endured in tense pain, he showed no signs of complaint, deeming his sufferings of small account compared with the inestimable privilege of receiving Holy Communion every day, together with the other spiritual ministrations so generously given by the Very Rev. Canon McCaferty, P.P., and the Rev. Father McMullin, C.C.

In the passing of Samuel O'Flaherty Ireland has lost a true-heated patriot and a sterling character General sympathy will go out to his bereaved wife and family. To them, to his brothers, one of whim is Father Jas. O'Flaherty, Eccleciastical Inspector of the Diocese of Derry, and to his other relatives we offer our sincere condolence.—May he rest in peace.