Obituary: Bundoran’s Liam Travers (Snr) was ‘a remarkable and incredible man’ 

The very large congregation of mourners that turned out for the funeral of Liam Travers, (Snr) Sheil Avenue, Bundoran on Wednesday, January 10, was testament to a man that was universally admired and hugely respected within the wider community, mourners were told. 

He was a thorough gentleman in every sense, coupled with a wonderful good humour that was only matched by an intellect and determination, which accompanied him throughout his life.  

In many ways, Liam was a truly remarkable man and a visionary, who had contracted polio at a very young age, but went on to become a successful entrepreneur, a gifted musician, a long time civilian staff member with the 28th Infantry Battalion at Finner Camp and at one stage, a member and even Chairman of Bundoran Urban District Council. 

Liam had an engaging quality and glorious sense of optimism that was only tempered with his frustration of administration and bureaucracy.

His American themed diner with the front of a Cadillac jutting out onto the Main Street and the tourist road train which brought visitors around the resort, were just two of the many business initiatives that made Liam stand out from the crowd. 

He had also run a small cinema on Main Street, but with the movies all two years or older.

Aside from all of that there was his music career, six children (and later grandchildren and great grandchildren) and his regular mainstay of working at Finner Camp. 

Indeed, his huge contribution to his forty years plus service in the Secretariat Department of the 28 INf Batt at Finner was acknowledged by the presence of OC of the 28 Inf Batt, Lt Col Shane Rockett and Sgt Major Paddy Enfield.   

Liam was struck down with Polio when he was just four and a half months old. While it was a huge challenge with the help of his parents he was up to the task. From the age of five years, his mother sent him to music lessons to learn the piano. 

Her side of the family were very musically oriented while his father Bilshie excelled in acting on stage, something which his older sister was equally talented in. He continued with the music lessons and also later picked up the guitar.

(Above: The late Liam Travers in his younger days) 

After his Primary Certificate, he went to De La Salle College but his experiences there saw him move to the ‘tech’ which was corporal punishment free; the happiest days of his life, he would later recall as well as garnering many lifelong friends both in Ballyshannon and later Finner Camp.   

In his early years, he also got to gig in the Great Northern Hotel and with a bit of luck ended up playing with the later legendary Phil Coulter, who was then studying at Queens University. 

Liam later also met his wonderful wife Anna while playing in the Bundoran's Holyrood Hotel. She was over on holidays from Scotland. When he heard her sing, that was the deal clincher, he recalled in an interview as it was the most beautiful and sweet singing voice that he ever heard.

“To this day she has the most beautiful and sweet singing voice that I have ever heard, a combination of Connie Francis and Ruby Murray,” he recalled in a past interview with this writer.

As a duo they played together at a host of local venues for more than two decades.

At his funeral, a guard of honour from the local GAA club flanked both sides of the Avenue beside the local garda station as the cortege made the short journey from his house to the local Church in recognition of his family’s long contribution to the Association, which stretches back to the 1930s through his late father Bilshie and later his own sons Marc, Paul and Liam.    

His good friend, and another GAA man, Brian McEniff gave one of the two readings at the Funeral Mass. 

Chief celebrant at the Mass, Military Chaplain of the 28th Inf Batt at Finner Camp, Fr Jerry Carroll remarked that Liam’s name within the camp was revered and everyone had a story about Liam. 

He also observed that only a couple of people had even mentioned his physical disability as a result of contracting polio, as it did not even impact how his friends and work colleagues actually viewed Liam.     

“It was never noticed. It wasn’t a thing for the guys that worked with him or even for Liam himself. And when you look at what he achieved outside of the camp. Inside the camp he was doing a lot of sensitive stuff that took place during the Troubles, Liam was privy to that, certainly a well trusted character and a lot of stuff went on in that camp in the 70s and 80s. He was there from '72.

"I am sorry that I never got to meet the man to hear the stories that he could have told because wonderful things were achieved from that Camp. Thank God we can now celebrate a Good Friday Peace Agreement that Liam in his own little way contributed enormously to.” 

Referencing some of his other outside businesses he started up, which also included a clothes shop and B&B, Fr Carroll said “the man was amazing and the way he had to teach you, his children, how to become projectionists, train drivers, waitresses, chefs, dancers and of course musicians”. 

Remarking that death eventually visits us all, Fr Carroll added that deceased must have got great energy from his faith: 

“Our goal is not that we should strive to live forever, but our goal should be to strive to leave something that will live forever. And I think that Liam has succeeded in doing that,” he concluded.     

Later, after Communion the final Commendation was performed by Canon Ramon Munster P.E., who also remarked on his own long association with Liam before his retirement as the local Parish Priest and he also acknowledged Liam’s three decades of service as the Church organist along with his religious and spiritual disposition. 

The other concelebrant at the Funeral Mass was Fr Jeremiah Munyoki C.C. 

Liam is predeceased by his parents Bilshie and Mary-Kate Travers and his dear sister Marguerite, who died in 2020.
Liam passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family and was the beloved husband of Anna and adored father to Marc, Paul, Nieve, Sinead, Liam and Kerry.

His passing is deeply regretted and will be forever missed by his loving wife, sons, daughters, Paul’s partner Nadine, Nieve’s partner Fabiano, Sinead’s partner Aidan, his beloved grandchildren Aoife, Beth, Caleb, Isabella, Alex and Nathan, his great grandchildren Alicia and Hazel, sisters Mary, Ann and Phena, brother Des, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and all his relatives, neighbours and great friends to whom deepest sympathy is extended.
Following Mass of the Resurrection at the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Bundoran burial followed afterwards in St. Ninnidh’s Cemetery, Newtown.