Stephen McCahill (65), who co-owned the Corner House pub in Ardara was stabbed hours after a gathering of musicians in the pub including singer Imelda May
14:24, 05 Jan 2026Updated 15:25, 05 Jan 2026
Gardai are set to launch a murder investigation after this well known publican was stabbed to death in his own home.
Stephen McCahill (65), who co-owned the Corner House pub in Ardara and was previously named Donegal Person of the Year, was stabbed at his home in a horrific incident in the early hours of Monday morning.
Mr McCahill, who is a highly regarded member of the community and was also named ‘Mr Ardara’ in 2022, is suspected to have been brutally attacked by a man known to him at around 3:50am in the morning. The suspect, who is in his 30s, was arrested at a separate location, and is being detained in connection with the incident - as gardai are set to upgrade the probe to a murder investigation.
READ MORE: LIVE UPDATES AS GARDAI SET TO LAUNCH MURDER PROBE
The attack occurred following a suspected row at the home and an earlier large gathering in the Corner House pub that night - with local musicians from around the area and even singer Imelda May in attendance. The death of Mr McCahill, who is a father of two, has sent shockwaves around the community - with a local councillor telling how he had literally put the area on the map.
Speaking to this paper local Councillor Brian Carr said: “This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. As it’s an ongoing investigation I have to respect the family’s privacy and the process at this time.
Cllr Carr said the victim is “a very well regarded man in the area who put Ardara on the map.” “He was just involved in the community in every way possible - from festivals to businesses. There’s a lot of shock in the community this morning,” he said.
In a statement gardai said they are “investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the death of a male at a location near Ardara in the early hours of Monday, 5th January 2026. “At approximately 3:50am, Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to an assault at a domestic residence outside the town. A male in his 60s was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene,” a garda spokesperson said.
“A male in his 30s was later arrested at a second location and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Co. Donegal. The scene is preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. The office of the State Pathologist has been notified.”
Mr McCahill was previously named as Donegal Person of the Year at an event in the Regency Hotel in Dublin in 2016. In 2023 Mr McCahill represented his community as Mr Ardara by leading the Donegal Association of New York at the St Patrick’s Day Parade in the US city that year.
The Glenties native was reportedly previously a worker with Lyons Tea and later became a quality control officer with Moracrete in Clondalkin. He moved back to Donegal in 1981 where he took up a position as quality control manager with Campbell Seafoods in Killybegs and spent six years with the company. He later worked as a marketing manager before, and had also worked as an auctioneer.
He set up his own company, Glenard Fish, which organised the sales of fresh fish. Mr McCahill married his partner Marietta and had two children - a son Steven and daughter Gemma - and resided in Ardara where he engaged in various roles and initiatives to positively promote Donegal.
He was also one of the founding members of the Cup O’Tae Festival and served as Chairman of the Festival Committee. He also served as Chairman of Ardara Traders’ Association and was actively involved in the GAA club in Ardara.
He was treasurer for fourteen years and chairman for four years and at the request of the Donegal GAA County Board he was once asked to “manage” the Sam Maguire Cup in 1992 and again in 2012. At the famous Corner House Pub in Ardara he launched traditional music events and hosted a variety of locals and visitors alike.
Gardai say that a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at Ballyshannon Garda Station. A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has also been assigned to support the family of the deceased.
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.
Sign up to the Irish Mirror's Courts and Crime newsletter here and get breaking crime updates and news from the courts direct to your inbox.