Funeral details confirmed for N3 crash couple
The sudden and tragic deaths of James McHugh and his wife Noreen (née O’Donnell), have caused widespread shock
Funeral details have been confirmed for Donegal GAA great James McHugh and his wife Noreen, who both died following a serious road collision in Cavan earlier this week.
The couple will repose at their family home in Bavin, Kilcar, on Thursday, August 13, from 2pm until 9pm, and again on Friday, August 14, from 12 noon until 9pm. The Rosary will take place at 9pm on both evenings.
Their Funeral Mass will be held at St Cartha’s Church, Kilcar, on Saturday, August 15, at 11am, followed by burial in Towney Graveyard.
The family has requested that all those attending the wake avail of the shuttle service.
The sudden and tragic deaths of Mr McHugh and his wife Noreen (née O’Donnell), of Bavin, Kilcar, have caused widespread shock in their native area and throughout the wider GAA community.
Mr McHugh (62), was a former All-Ireland winner with Donegal and was one of the standout members of the county's historic 1992 team which secured Donegal's first-ever All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title.
Playing at half-forward, he started the All-Ireland final against Dublin at Croke Park and scored a point as Donegal won 0-18 to 0-14. His performances during the historic campaign earned him an All Star award, while he was also named Man of the Match after Donegal's 1990 Ulster final victory.
He represented Donegal at senior level from 1990 to 1996, making 59 appearances for the county. At club level, he helped Kilcar to Donegal Senior Football Championship titles in 1985, 1989 and 1993.
He was also part of a remarkable footballing family. His brother Martin was a member of the same 1992 All-Ireland winning team and later became a prominent GAA manager and pundit, including a spell as Cavan manager.
Away from football, Mr McHugh worked as a network technician with the ESB. His daughter Emma is a Special Adviser to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee.
In their death notice, the mcHughs were described as being “missed dearly” by their heartbroken and much-adored children Emma (Diarmaid) and Eoin (Emma).
They are also mourned by James' sisters Mary (Eugene) and Cathryn (Pat), his brothers Martin (Patrice) and Enda (Rosaleen), Noreen's sisters Maire (Paddy RIP), Sheila (Michael RIP) and Teresa (Dinny), and Noreen's brothers Paddy (Mary), Mickey (Mary) and Paul (Brenda), as well as Noreen's brother-in-law Michael, nieces and nephews, extended family, neighbours and wide circle of friends.
They were predeceased by their parents Jim and Kathleen McHugh and Paddy and Nora O'Donnell, as well as Noreen's sister Margaret.
As a mark of respect following the tragedy, Kilcar GAA Club has suspended all club activities until further notice.
The couple's deaths followed a collision involving a car and a van on the N3 at Drummallaght, near New Inns, between Virginia and Cavan, shortly before 2pm on Monday, August 10.
Mr McHugh was driving the car and suffered fatal injuries in the collision. Noreen, who was a passenger, was seriously injured and was airlifted from the scene to Beaumont Hospital. She subsequently died days later.
The male driver of the van, aged in his 50s, was taken to Cavan General Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Gardaí are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision and have appealed for witnesses, particularly anyone who travelled on the N3 between Virginia and Cavan between 1pm and 2pm on Monday.
Anyone who was in the area and may have dashcam or other camera footage is asked to make it available to investigating Gardaí.
Information can be provided to Bailieborough Garda Station on 042 969 4570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or at any Garda station.
The N3 was closed at the scene to facilitate an examination by Forensic Collision Investigators, with local diversions put in place.
The deaths of James and Noreen are the sixth and seventh fatalities on Cavan roads so far this year. Two people lost their lives on Cavan roads during the whole of 2025.
Their deaths follow the deaths of Nell Raven and her 10-year-old daughter Ira, who were killed in a collision involving a van near Shercock on July 24.
Before that, popular local publican Patsy McKenna, 79, proprietor of Nobby's in Corgreagh, Kill, near Cootehill, suffered fatal injuries in a single-vehicle motorcycle collision at Drumsillagh, Tullyvin, on July 5.
Earlier this year then, David McBride, a father of six from Castlebellingham, died in a single-vehicle collision near Shercock in February while delivering newspapers. Tommy Reilly, a 34-year-old father of three from Drumavaddy, died in a collision at Ardkill Beg, Carrickaboy, in early May while travelling to a nearby charity tractor run.