From Mick Molony, June 28, 2019

This morning we received sad news from Mick Moloney that the legendary musician and renowned fiddler and Irish step dancer Eugene O’Donnell passed away in Derry in the early hours of this morning with his son Shane O'Donnell and family at his side.

From Mick:
“His son Shane gave me the sad news early today Friday June 28, 2019. My old musical colleague and friend Eugene O’Donnell passed away early this morning in his beloved Derry City. We were beyond friends – more like blood brothers, joined at the hip for over 26 years. Despite Eugene holding a full time job as a draughtsman near the great city of Philadelphia we made many LP’s and CD’s and played locally and all over the USA for decades at a time when it was not very fashionable to sing or play Irish traditional songs or music. The colorful story of our rambles would fill a good sized book and in time it will. He was the best of company, the mightiest of musicians and the mightiest of men. He was a champion step dancer in his youth, the finest Irish dancer in the world at that time. He was a great and indeed legendary fiddler who specialized in the passionate performance of the ancient slow airs of Ireland and the majestically beautiful set dances composed by the masters in centuries long gone. He was a great composer himself and accompanied songs like none of his generation. Above all he was loyal to the very core of his being – the sort of man who would swing for a friend. All who knew him will be heartbroken at his loss.”
— Mick Moloney