Tributes for expat killed in Dubai balcony tragedy
A YOUNG Irish teacher who died after falling from a balcony in Dubai on St Patrick’s Day has been remembered as a ‘gentleman’ who loved adventure.
Emmett Blain, 26, from Mountcharles, Co. Donegal, had travelled abroad to teach in recent months and is understood to have been out celebrating with friends when the tragedy occurred.
Fr Francis Ferry, parish priest in Mountcharles, speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, remembered Emmett as a ‘popular’ and ‘fun-loving gentleman’ who was a keen sportsman.
Emmett had played f or l ocal Mountcharles GAA side St Naul’s for a number of years and was a member of the team’s reserves football side as recently as last year, before heading to Dubai for work. Fr Ferry said: ‘It’s a deep tragedy to learn about in the area. Emmett had been teaching in Dubai for nearly a year and he was a keen GAA player with St Naul’s before heading away.
‘He has one brother Gary, a sister, Jennifer and the poor father Seán and mother Bridie.
‘He was a very nice young man and extremely popular in the locality.
‘He worked in Letterkenny as a woodwork teacher for a while before emigrating to Dubai. He was a popular and fun-loving man. He could be best described as a gentleman.
‘He was a great footballer and he had a lot to live for and he enjoyed life. He was a very likeable young man and it’s a deep tragedy for his family and friends.
‘It’s a dark cloud of sadness for us up here today.’
Fr Ferry said it was his understanding that Mr Blain’s family are on their way to Dubai.
Emmett was a nephew of Donegal’s 1992 All-Ireland hero Noel Hegarty.
St Naul’s club secretary Mary Coughlan said: ‘He was a really lovely person and a wonderful footballer.’
His family are being assisted by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Irish embassy in Dubai is liaising with the family and arrangements are being made to fly the young man’s remains home.
A full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy has already been l aunched by l ocal police.