LAST UPDATE | 5 Jan

THE CO DONEGAL businessman killed in a fatal assault in Ardara in the early hours of this morning has been named locally as businessman and community activist Stephen McCahill.

There is huge shock across Donegal and beyond following Mr McCahill’s sudden death.

The 65 year-old married father-of-two was a former Donegal Person of the Year in 2016.

A co-owner of the Corner House Bar in Ardara for the past 25 years, he was known affectionately as Mr Ardara by many.

Mr McCahill, who was originally from Glenties, was also an auctioneer and a director of a number of companies.

Stephen and his wife Marietta

He was pronounced dead following an assault at a domestic residence outside Ardara in the early hours of this morning.

A man in his 30s, who is understood to be known to Mr McCahill, was later arrested in connection with the attack.

Mr McCahill was also recognised for his work on numerous boards, committees and festival organisations across Ardara, Glenties and Killybegs.

Married to Marietta, the couple have two grown-up children, Steven and Gemma.

Donegal TD Pat the Cope Gallagher said Mr McCahill canvassed door-to-door for him during general elections on a number of occasions.

Gallagher said the dawning of the New Year soon turned to widespread sadness with the news breaking of the untimely passing of his lifelong friend, Stephen.

He said: “I had known Stephen through his work, with his community and voluntary efforts for Southwest Donegal, through sport but most of it was through our friendship. Stephen had a massive flair and drive for community development, and his efforts were widely known in Ardara and further afield.

“In recognition of that Stephen was Donegal person of the Year in 2026, an award he truly deserved.

“In 1981, Stephen moved back to Donegal to work with Campbell Seafoods, Killybegs, where he was employed as quality control manager, through the intervening years he had a long association with the fishing sector.

“More recently, he was heavily involved in business within the Ardara area, with a local public house and auctioneers’ company, he had remarkable business ethic and ability.

“The events of the past twenty-four hours will weigh extremely heavy on this close-knit local community, and I urge us all to support the entire family network of the McCahill and Maloney Families in this most difficult of times, his many friends and business associates will need all our prayers, support and comfort in the time ahead.

“Both Ann and I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his Family, to his wife Marietta, son Stephen, daughter Gemma. The members of the Mc Cahill and Maloney Families and his many friends and work colleagues that knew Stephen throughout his life.”

For the past 25 years, Mr McCahill had been involved in the running of Corner House bar in Ardara, where he forged many musical connections.

A stalwart of the GAA community, Stephen served as chairman of the Ardara club and was custodian of the Sam Maguire Cup in both 1992 and 2012, proudly bringing it to the Donegal diaspora around the world.

Stephen began his career in hospitality in Ardara and went on to work in a wide range of roles, including as a Lyons Tea sales representative, auctioneer and quality control manager in both Dublin and Killybegs.

In 1991, he established his own company, Glenard Fish, which organised the sales of fresh fish, and he also served as Chair of the Donegal Fisheries Local Action Group North.

He had the honour of being named Rehab Donegal Person of the Year in 2006 and in January 2017, he received the Donegal Association Donegal Person of the Year award for his outstanding contribution to community life.

He also stood as an Independent candidate in the 2011 general election, where he received 1,831 first preference votes.

Investigations into the death of Mr McCahill are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Ballyshannon Garda Station on 071 9858 530, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.