“A man who did his best to be good” - Late Ray Byrne, Creevy, Ballyshannon

The recent death of Ray Byrne, from Creevy, near Ballyshannon, at St. Phelim's Nursing Home, Dromahair has evoked a huge outpouring of sympathy and sadness in the south Donegal area where both he and his family are well known and much respected.

At his Funeral Mass held in St Patrick's Church in Ballyshannon, parish priest, Fr Paddy Dunne , spoke of the placing of the deceased's Jerusalem Bible from Ray's younger days at the table of remembrance “and was treasured by him”.  

He was assisted by Fr. Fergus McEveney OFM, Guardian, Franciscan Friary, Rossnowlagh.

Other memories included some sand from the beach in Rossnowlagh that Ray had regularly walked as well as musical scores to indicate his love of music, as well as a family photo, “representing his beautiful family”.

In his homily he spoke of Ray as a “true and proud Dub” who had been born on the Clonliffe Road and who was the eldest of three.

He had attended O’Connell’s Primary School and Marion College Secondary School there and also spent some time with the Jesuits, before attending UCD before taking up a teaching position in Zambia, where he met his wife Carmel and they married there in 1975 in what Fr Dunne called “an adventurous life together, travelling and exploring beautiful places”.

He enjoyed the different cultural experiences and people, loved photography and even had his own dark room, Fr Dunne recalled.  

His love of music was also evident with Ray taking up the guitar at an early age and going on to perform in the very well known Palestrina Choir as well as the Bray Choral Society.

Ray was also a big part of the local ‘Bel Canto’ Choir of which he played an important part as it was with his involvement with ‘Donegal Voices’ and the local Ballyshannon Musical Society.

Ray then moved on from teaching to accounts in Abbotts, with Ray and Carmel settling in Creevy and they developed a special relationship with the area, its land and their garden, the latter where he would often be found “pottering about”.

His love of walking saw the hills of Donegal replacing the hills of Dublin, also becoming one of the regulars at Rossnowlagh beach and anything to do with “the beautiful outdoors' '.

He loved his caps and was proud of his beard and both barbers and his family both agreed on another attribute, “his love to talk” and “had a great interest in life”, but above all his love of family was central to his life.

A trip to South Korea would see his interest in a new culture expanding to even embrace its language, which he did by attending courses in Dublin, before the visit, as relayed by daughter Herion, Fr Paddy explained.

Another attribute and strengths from the deceased's life, as told through his family and friends was his optimism and positivity, no matter what the challenges, he added.

He never criticised or put down people “except politicians as we all do at times” and ”no matter what happened, he was always optimistic and refused to be negative, no matter what came his way throughout life and he always stepped over it, he always looked for the way forward and carved a path forward . . . a positive outlook on the beautiful gift of life”.

Summing up his life, Fr Dunne took the words of Ray’s son Mark as he recalled his late father as “a man who did his best to be good”.

Ray will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his wife Carmel, daughter Rachael, son Mark, his son-in-law Des, and daughter-in-law Herion, his grandchildren Alex, Callum, Abhay and Isabelle, his sister Colette and brother Des, his sister-in-law, brother in-law , nieces, nephews and all his extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.

His Funeral took place last Wednesday, August 23 at St. Patrick’s Church in Ballyshannon. 

Following his Funeral Mass at St.Patrick's Church, this was followed by cremation at Lakelands Crematorium, Cavan.