D.J. Donovan, going into his first game in which he would be in pads, pondered his path to this point.
And not just what he’s done at Navy, which is set to play Notre Dame on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland. He looked back on his Irish heritage.
How his great grandfather immigrated to the United States about a century ago and was an amateur boxer who sent his winnings back to his family members who owned a farm in Ireland. How values and qualities like prioritizing family and work ethic have remained with the Donovans all these years later. And how important this game will be for the Midshipmen junior tight end.
Approximately 25 relatives of Donovan’s will be attending Navy’s season opener across the Atlantic Ocean with plans of visiting the farm his great grandfather grew up on.
However, Donovan isn’t sure which of them will be rooting for Navy since many have attended Notre Dame.
“What a game to get dressed up in in Ireland, especially with the heritage I have out there,” Donovan said. “I’m really excited to go.”
Navy players like Donovan and senior wide receiver Colin O’Connor have several familial ties to Ireland. So playing in this game is vastly more significant than a long plane ride.
But just because the Midshipmen play in the AAC and aren’t favored to beat Notre Dame doesn’t mean they’re expecting to travel all that way just to lose.
“We’re going to treat it like every other game. Obviously it’s a big first game to have,” first-year Navy head coach Brian Newberry said at the AAC’s media day event this offseason. “It’s exciting to get to go over to Dublin and play on that kind of a stage against a storied program such as Notre Dame. What a great opportunity for our players.”
Navy Football’s Ties To Ireland
Four of O’Connor’s great grandparents were from the Dublin area and migrated to the U.S. Two of his great grandfathers, Patrick Joseph Murphy and Patrick Joseph O’Connor, arrived in the New York City area in the early 1900s.
“Those feelings and some of that culture passes down. It’s pretty evident in the size of my family,” O’Connor said. “That Irish feeling and that pride in being Irish is still very much there. Everyone in my family has expressed a certain level of pride in being Irish. That’s kind of what makes Irish people Irish is that pride in being a descendant of someone who was in Ireland or an immigrant to America, that toughness that comes along with it.”
All of Donovan’s family on his father’s side is Irish. His great grandfather, Daniel Donovan, was born in Ireland in 1910 and moved to the United States in 1929 at 19 years old. Donovan’s great grandmother, Margaret Mohan, was also born in Ireland and eventually moved to the U.S. They moved at different times, but they met at an Irish dance in New York.
Donovan’s other great grandfather, Edward Maher, is also from Ireland.
“Being Irish means a lot to me and my family,” Donovan said. “My Irish family crest has been hanging up in my living room since I can remember, so it’s always been a big part of my family.”
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Service is another common thread among his family, O’Connor noted. His grandfather, Patrick Joseph O’Connor, returned to Europe to fight in World War I for the U.S. Army. Many of O’Connor’s great uncles served as well.
Donovan’s grandfather and his brother also both served, one in the Army and another in the Navy. D.J. Donovan’s brother is now at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, so that’s another addition to the Army-Navy rivalry, D.J. pointed out.
Donovan’s great grandfather, Daniel Donovan, was one of 12 siblings. Donovan and O’Connor noted they think of their large yet close families when they reflect on their Irish heritage. St. Patrick’s Day was often a large celebration for both.
“That’s what I think being Irish means to me,” O’Connor, whose mother is one of nine siblings and father is one of eight, said. “Obviously I’m not directly from Ireland, but those feelings and that type of heritage, close-knit, large families, that’s what it means to me. And that’s the feeling that I get, even when I found out the game was in Ireland.
“Some of that feeling of family, it’s very similar to football as well, how you have that large family. I think that’s why Ireland is such a perfect-fitting place for us to take our program because we have such a large family as well.”
Navy Football’s Trip To Ireland
Both O’Connor and Donovan hoped to be taking part in some sightseeing and cultural activities while they were in Ireland.
“At the academy, in general we’re super prepared for something like this,” O’Connor said. “I don’t think it’ll affect too much of our preparation. There might be some changes on paper, but I think the team as a whole and the staff are pretty locked in on their jobs so I don’t think there will be too much dropoff in performance.”
Donovan added that “at the end of the day, I know it’s a business trip.” He said Navy’s effort, attitude, and toughness set the program apart – which are all qualities he’s familiar with thanks to his heritage.
