PETER McDONALD RIP

All at Dalymount were very sorry to hear that our oldest surviving former player, Peter McDonald, passed away on Tuesday aged 98.

Peter was with Bohs for two seasons between 1944 and 1946, playing 12 first team games and scoring one goal, the equaliser in a 2-2 clash with Shelbourne.

Although it might not have been the most stellar of careers, this was not down to any lack of talent on his part, rather that he was in competition for a first team place with the legendary Kevin O’Flanagan, with whom he is pictured above, and was only selected when the good doctor was away on egg-chasing duties with Ireland.

At the start of the 46/47 season, Peter left Bohs to join Transport. This was partially to avail of first team football, but it helped that they were able to offer him wages of ten shillings a week (around 63c in today’s money).

Bohemians were strictly amateur at the time. Not long after afterwards, his talent was recognised when he was selected to play for Ireland in the 1948 London Olympics.

He always remained proud of his Bohemian heritage and was a regular visitor to Dalymount down through the decades where he used his status as an ex-player to gain free entry to the game, and then cadge a cuppa in the Jackie Jameson bar at half-time.

His last visit to the home of Irish football was in 2019 for an U19 game between Bohs and Shels.

Peter will be in reposing at Kirwan’s funeral home, 21 Fairview Strand this evening between 5pm and 7pm. Then, following 11am mass on Friday, will be cremated in Dardistown Crematorium.