The funeral of popular photographer Gary Foy has remembered a craftsman who was integral to many aspects of local sporting life.
Mr Foy of Glencovitt, Ballybofey, died on Friday at the age of 58 following a recent illness.
Gary’s work was appreciated by sports organisations across the county and his funeral mass honoured both his skills as a photographer and his passion for promoting the people behind local events and tournaments.
Fr Vincent Finnegan told mourners at St Mary’s Church Stranorlar, that Gary was “not just a photographer, he was the eyes of our community,” describing him as a true gentleman whose passing had left “a deep void in the twin towns, the Finn Valley and the wider Donegal community”.
Gary’s funeral mass was concelebrated by Fr Patsy Arkinson.
Mourners heard how Gary embraced life fully, from his early involvement in soccer and Gaelic games to his lifelong support of local sport.
Through his work, Fr Finnegan said, Gary captured “not just the moments that would be shared in newspapers, but also the simple, quiet joys of life that we often overlook”.
Gary frequently offered people complimentary discs of additional photographs so they could have their own memories to treasure.
Fr Finnegan noted that Gary inherited his gift from his father John, and that “each click of Gary’s camera was infused with “a spirit that radiated positivity, warmth, and a desire to give back”.
Gary never turned down an opportunity to help, often arriving at events at short notice with “a camera slung around his neck, ready to serve”.
Fr Vincent also spoke of Gary as a devoted family man and “a craftsman of the highest order”, who also built timber-framed houses and whose love of carpentry was evident throughout the family home.
“Gary’s life was a canvas painted with acts of generosity and love. Each photo he took, each moment he captured, was a reminder of the richness of life we sometimes overlook. He demonstrated that the sacred can be found in the ordinary,” said Fr Finnegan.
Gary’s commitment to Ballybofey United, the Donegal Junior League and the shooting community has been recognised countless times in the days after his passing.
He stood on the sidelines, Fr Vincent said, “not just as a spectator, but as a contributor, a supporter, and a friend”.
Gary’s son Conor also recalled how his father was always busy helping others, often at the expense of his own time, whether organising paperwork for local sporting facilities, keeping shooting organisations up to date, or responding to late-night taxi calls.
Conor said the guard of honour outside Ballybofey United’s new ground, along with the presence of members of the shooting community in green blazers, helped answer a question he had often wondered about but never asked: “Why did he always take on so much? Why couldn’t he just say no the odd time?”
These tributes and the support from friends and colleagues during Gary’s wake showed the family “how well he was thought of and how his efforts have been recognised and appreciated.”
Gary will be greatly missed throughout the county and has been remembered and celebrated as a community stalwart who mastered many roles.
Gary’s Funeral Mass will be followed by cremation in Lakelands Crematorium, Cavan.
Final farewell to popular photographer who captured the joys of life was last modified: February 10th, 2026 by Staff Writer
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