Eamonn Keogh pens a tribute to former Killarney basketball star John Donovan who has passed away. Popular and well-liked, Big John aways spoke fondly of his time in Killarney.
Many people in Killarney basketball circles were saddened to learn the unfortunate news that former professional basketball player John Donovan has passed away.
John was the popular and well-liked American player for the St Vincent’s Killarney club that played under the Danny Mann banner in the national league division two in the 1985-86 season.
A towering figure standing 7 ft 1in, he was affectionately known as ‘Big John’ and stood out on and off the court. He was one of the tallest players ever to play in Ireland and his stint locally coincided with a transition period for Killarney basketball.
The team had been relegated from the Premier Division one league and only one American player was allowed on the team for the new 1985-86 season.
John quickly settled in to a side comprising of a combination of Killarney and Tralee players. Locals Paudie O’Connor, Connie Murphy, Pat O’Shea, Pat O’Connor and Johnny O’Donoghue were joined by Tralee’s Mervyn Griffin, Pa Knowles, Connie O’Connor and Colm Sheehy and they were coached by Kerry basketball legend Gerald ‘Gatt’ Carey.
With Big John leading the way, Team Danny Mann enjoyed a decent run winning 15 games and losing seven and finished third in the league losing out narrowly on promotion back to the top flight. They defeated Avon Hawks 75-73 in a league championship semi-final but lost the final 84-81 to St Vincent’s of Cork.
Having arrived in Killarney in September 1985, John was in town less than two months when local club St Paul’s was formed in November 1985. While the rivalry between the two local clubs was intense, John proved to be a hugely popular figure and built many friendships with people in both clubs.
When he wasn’t lining out in national league games, he was busy training and coaching underage club players as well as the local schools. He was always generous with his time, passing on his knowledge and expertise to the younger generation.
Picture: Don MacMonagle
His living accommodation was in The Danny Mann on New Street and he was a familiar figure on the streets of Killarney every day. Those with little knowledge of basketball knew who he was as he was 7’ 1” and he was always friendly, good natured and well mannered.
Born in October of 1960 in Ridgewood, New Jersey, John went to Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York on a full scholarship and was fifth in the Marist programme history with 116 blocked shots.
As well as Killarney, John enjoyed successful overseas stints in Steyr, Austria and Tokyo, Japan. He also played with Ireland at international level.
Following his playing days John settled in Templeton, California in 1989. He worked with American corporations Chevron and State Farm and also set up his own insurance company called the ‘Big John Isurance Agency’ .
John always spoke fondly of his time in Killarney and had planned to visit Ireland in 2020 and 2021 but Covid disrupted those plans. Late last year he said that Ireland was still on his bucket list with hopes for 2024 but he experienced health challenges of two open-heart surgeries and also endured an ultra-rare neurological condition, Superficial Siderosis.
Big John, unfortunately, never made it back to Killarney but his memory will live on and his name always comes up in conversations when local basketball people recall and reminisce about the various American players that have played here throughout the years.
John Michael Donovan, a towering figure both in stature and spirit, passed away at the age of 63 in San Luis Obispo, CA on March 20, 2024 as the result of a fall. John was predeceased by his brother, Joseph Donovan and his sister, Anne Donovan, a legendary figure in women’s basketball who won Olympic gold as a player and as a coach for the United States.
John’s legacy is carried on by his beloved wife, Sharon, his daughters Sarah, Katherine, Rachel, Emily and Meredith and the extended Donovan family.
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