SINGER Daniel O’Donnell choked back tears today as the people of Kincasslagh came out in their hundreds to say a sad farewell to his mother Julia.
Hundreds of mourners turned up for the funeral of the gentle 94 year old who lived for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The coastal church of St Mary’s in Kincasslagh was packed to capacity an hour before the funeral mass was due to begin.
The church nestles on a small hill overlooking the sea with Owey Island in the distance where Julia and her late husband moved from to the mainland to marry and have children.
Daniel O’Donnell’s wife Majella comforts him at his mother Julia’s funeral today. Picture by Joe Boland.
No less than eleven priests concelebrated the funeral mass.
They included Fr Brian Darcy, Fr John Joe Duffy and chief celebrant Fr Brian Logue who was present at Julia’s husband Francie’s funeral almost 50 years ago.
Julia’s remains were brought into the church by her sons and daughters James, John Bosco, Daniel, Margaret and Kathleen.
Daniel’s wife Majella and a large following of family followed close behind.
A large wreath of white roses and lilies sat on top of Julia’s coffin.
Parish priest Fr Pat Ward said his mother always asked him after funerals how many priests were at the mass.
He said his mother would have been proud of how many priests turned up to concelebrate Julia’s funeral mass.
Fr Logue, a local priest, returned from Scotland to conduct the service at the request of Julia.
Julia’s remains are brought to the church today with her native Owey island in the background. Picture by Joe Boland.
He said Julia was simply a wonderful mother who had many talents including knitting and composing songs.
“The children were also blessed, as I would know, with a wonderful father Francie. I have no doubt now that he and Julia are together again in the Kingdom of God.
“She was a gifted and talented person. She was very well known for her knitting, she knitted for the Pope, she knitted for the Queen and she received ‘thank you’ letters from both of them.”
To laughter from the congregation, he joked: “I cannot count the number of clerical black socks she knitted for me.
“She was also a composer of songs. When Daniel was nine years old he was at our home in Kincasslagh he offered to sing a song for us and it was called ‘there’s a shop at the corner called Logues’. My father’s shop.
“It was the first ever recorded song by Daniel. We still have the tape, the very first recording. And the studio it was composed was Logue’s kitchen.”
He looked at Julia’s coffin and said “Now Julia, I’m going to bid you farewell.
“Whenever I reach the golden gates, I hope, I hope you will be there to welcome me with a new pair of socks…and a song. One day I will meet you and we will sing together again.”
The funeral hymns, in both Irish and English, were sung by Daniel’s close friend Mary Duff.
Julia’s grand children and great-grandchildren read the prayers of the faithful.
Among the prayers was a request to pray of the staff of Dungloe Community Hospital where Julia was so lovingly cared for in her final days before she passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Among those in the packed congregation was hotelier and Donegal GAA All-Ireland winning manager Brian McEniff and Daniel’s official biographer Eddie Rowley.
Throughout the mass Daniel managed to remain composed but broke down in tears as his mother’s coffin was led from the church.
Outside the heavens had opened into a gentle drizzle as Julia was led to her final resting place at nearby Belcruit Cemetery alongside her husband Francie.
With her island birthplace in the distance through the mist and rain, Julia O’Donnell’s long journey had finally come to a peaceful end.
Tags:
