There were tears of sadness and joy as the funeral took place today of popular Letterkenny publican Harry Blake.
Harry, who was 82, passed away at his home on the town’s Main Street on Thursday last.
Hundreds of people lined the street from Harry’s home, up Church Lane to St Eunan’s Cathedral for his funeral mass.
The father of five, who was pre-decesased by his beloved wife Maire, was a familiar figure in the Cathedral Town where he was the face of Blake’s Bar.
As well as being a dedicated family man, Harry served the public with pride for decades standing behind the counter of the popular bar.
But it was playing with and later serving on the committee of St Eunan’s GAA Club was where Harry was most at home.
Crowds squeezed into St Eunan’s Cathedral for today’s funeral mass which was celebrated by Fr Eamon Kelly and Fr Willie McMenamin.
Fr Kelly spoke of how Harry had such a close relationship with God and how he proudly strode up the Church Lane for daily mass.
Although a publican, Harry was a proud pioneer and never touched a drop of alcohol in his life.
“He would have been delighted to see the St Eunan’s boys in time for mass today,” quipped Fr Kelly.
He said that GAA was Harry’s passion and this was reflected by the fact that he was nominated to the St Eunan’s Hall of Fame many years ago.
He loved backing the odd horse but didn’t go on form but rather relied on the name of the horse.
Fr Kelly revealed how some locals at Harry’s wake decided to honour this tradition and put a few pound on a horse called ‘One for Harry’ which raced yesterday and had odds of 9-1.
Many of Harry’s friends are now toasting the much-respected publican after the horse won!
As the crowds filed from the Cathedral, many stories and encounters with the great Harry Blake were recounted and retold.
His remains were brought to Conwal Graveyard passing his beloved O’Donnell Park where members fittingly stood in silence to say a final farewell to one of their own.
His children Joseph, Raymond, Kevin, Ita and David as well as his brothers, sisters, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces and nephews will miss Harry dearly.
But so too will the ordinary people of Letterkenny from whom such an all-too familiar figure and decent man has been taken from us.
Rest in peace Harry.
Tags: