Obituary: Funeral takes place of Ballyshannon's Michael Gallagher

The death of Michael Gallagher, Birmingham and formerly of 31 Cluain Barron, Ballyshannon, evoked much sadness and recollections in his native town, where he was buried after Funeral Mass yesterday, Tuesday May 14.

At the Mass in St Patrick's Church, Parish Priest Fr Paddy Dunne said that death is never easy, “when you lose someone that is part of our lives and family, that you have grown up with and it is always painful”.

Recalling that “the memories are deep within us” he said that Michael was baptised and confirmed in the very same church where his funeral was taking place.

“He’s come back here now before the same altar . . . the altar of God, his home place”.

It was a journey that had taken him from Cluain Barron to working in a hotel in Bundoran as a chef, before heading over to Birmingham at the age of just 17 years. 

He followed a path, “as many young lads did and younger to work on the sites and Michael also spent his time on the oil rigs in Scotland, where Michael became known as a top class steel fixer,” mourners were told.

“It’s many a young lad went over, where Michael taught you the tricks of the trade and get your way around the sites”.

He also taught them to read maps to “keep you right and look after you . . . taking you under his wing and teaching you and keeping them right in his own gentle way”.

Fr Dunne said it had also been mentioned to him that the deceased “never cursed on site”  and in times of pressure, the only word that was ever used was “feck”, a fond moniker that followed him in his working life.

It was also recalled that he was an award winning boxer at a time when it was very tough to win a bout in the ring, with Michael winning an Ulster title, played GAA in the Bakery Cup and would have been delighted with Donegal’s victory in Clones the previous Sunday.

Another joy in his life “was a flutter on the horses”. 

Fr Dunne also referred to the devastating loss of the deceased's wife Carmel and son Richard, but in the same way that Michael had built many a home for families over the years he now had a beautiful place in the home of God.

Michael was predeceased by his parents Mickey and Dolly, his wife Carmel, son Richard, his brothers Seamus, Jackie, Eugene, sisters Peggy, Anna and Noelle.

He will be sadly missed by his daughters Josephine, Julie, Rosemary, grandchildren, his brothers Cathal, Danny, Brendan, Fergal sisters Sheila Killiea, Regina Ayres, nieces, nephews and all extended family and friends to whom deepest sympathy is extended..

Following Funeral Mass at St. Patrick's Church, Ballyshannon burial followed afterwards in the Abbey cemetery.