‘Give mammy even more love than you did before this’ - Funeral of Rory Greene

The Funeral Mass of Rory Greene or as he was more affectionately known Ruairí bán took place earlier this afternoon in his native Gortahork. Rory Greene, Ardsbeg, tragically lost his life following a car crash in Australia on November 29.

As Mass began, Rory’s three children Mary-Kate, Ruán and Íona brought symbols of Rory’s life to the altar among which was a crucifix, the county flags of Antrim and Donegal and a box of treats. 

Retired Sagart Paróiste, Seán Ó Gallchóir, said the crucifix was a symbol of Rory’s strong faith and had been given to him on his confirmation by Curly. The green and gold flag of Donegal with the red cross and the saffron and white flag of Antrim were brought to the altar by Ruán - the flags, Ó Gallchóir said, were a symbol of how the two counties met and merged as a result of the marriage of Frances and Rory. The treats represented the treats Dorothy and Bernard spoiled Rory with over the years - a symbol of Rory’s love and devotion to the Greene family, he said. 

A large congregation gathered together under snow-filled skies in Teach Pobail Críost an Rí today. The Mass was concelebrated by Parish Priests, Father Donnchadh Ó Baoill and Nigel Ó Gallchóir.

Ó Gallchóir welcomed and thanked all those who were present, and members of the family who were watching the Mass from New York, the Isle of Man and Rory’s friends in Australia. Many could not travel due to adverse weather conditions. He extended his deepest sympathies to all who were associated with Rory.  

Ó Gallchóir spoke of how traumatic it is to have someone you love die suddenly and unexpectedly on a foreign shore.  

“Rory died in the first week of Advent … three people stand out and we have lessons to learn from each one. First of all John the Baptist, Rory was born on the feast day of John the Baptist, Lá Fheile Eoin, as the blazing bonfires turned to ash, he was born on the twenty-fourth of June, 1979 - the year the Pope came to Mayo - they would rather Sam I suppose but sure…”  Ó Gallchóir said. 

He added it was thought that Rory met Frances on June 24, 1999. They married on the shores of sweet Carnlough bay on June 24, 2006. 

The second Advent personality that was recalled during the Mass was Our Lady: “Our Lady is the representative of all mothers - all parents who stand by the cross as their children die. She represents and understands the pain, grief, suffering and desolation felt not just by Bernard and Dorothy but shared by all parents here, by Frances - the mother of Rory’s three darling children, by his brothers and sisters, all parents or parents-to-be,” he said. 

The third figure he asked the congregation to recall was St Joseph who was a carpenter by trade and spent his days, like many, working. Ó Gallchóir said Joseph's life was ‘rocked by the unexpected turbulence of Jesus’ birth.'

Ó Gallchóir prayed that God would give everyone the grace to imitate Joseph in our own troubles and torment. 

He told the congregation that today we entrust an understanding, forgiving, merciful God with Rory’s soul who led his life according to the great commandment of love. 

He recalled that Rory was born on Ardsbeg, went to school in Derryconnor, attended Pobailscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola before attending the then LYIT. 

He said Rory loved his parents, Dorothy and Bernard dearly and he very much loved them: “He was their Ruairí bán with a head of curls that were not only admired by Dorothy and Bernard … but by the women of Meenacladdy and Glascherhoo who when gathered in Dixons, on coming home from pension day in Falcarragh, on Fridays, would twirl with Rory’s curls.”

Ó Gallchóir described Ruairí as being compassionate, kind, gentle, humble, devoted, loving and generous. 

Rory was very close to his family. He and his family came home three times in the past year and he tried his utmost to never miss an important family occasion. He called his mother religiously every Monday who would then relay the information to all the family. He was equally devoted to his wife Frances. 

The former Parish Priest told how in 1999 when Frances was staying with Curly, during her tenure at the coláiste Gaeilge, Rory would call down to collect scraps for the chickens. 

Rory and Frances hit it off on that occasion and as a result Bernard had some of the best fed chickens in Donegal - the blue tractor seldom left the road. Ó Gallchóir said Bernard, Rory’s father, Bernard, was confused as to why the sheep weren’t getting the same attention from Rory. There was laughter among the congregation. 

Following their marriage 16 years ago, in 2006, Frances and Rory moved to Australia. They enjoyed travelling around Queensland beside campfires and later located to Brisbane where they amassed a huge number of friends, in 2013. Rory welcomed new adventures and challenges: “He thought life would advance for both of them in Australia fair,” he said.   

The couple loved each other very much and testament to Rory’s love for Frances was the fact that each morning he gave her a cup of tea and toast in bed. 

The former Parish Priest recalled that food was very much enjoyed by Rory who when in the couple’s earlier days had been fed lovely healthy food and salads by his Frances before he would make an excuse to go to his mother’s house for his ‘proper’ dinner.

“Is deacair na prataí agus an stew agus an roast a bhuaileadh amach,” he said.  

Later, Rory would stand in the kitchen and cook listening to John Prine. 

“He was a wonderful husband and a wonderful dad - he spent so much time with them - he tried to mould them the best he could to be good honest christian people,” he said. 

Ó Gallchóir said the family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Kevin Belle Repatriation Trust and all those who helped them during their time of grief. 

“The family are very grateful to all who helped them through the horrendous days. They are heartbroken,” he said.

Ó Gallchóir said the community of Brisbane rallied around the family during their time of sorrow. He thanked the local priests in Brisbane who came to the family’s side.  

The former Parish Priest said that time, love and fortitude will heal their pain. He said that Rory will live on in the hearts and minds of those who loved him dearly.

Speaking from the altar he asked the children to be good to one another and to their mother. 

"They will have to be extra good to mammy and give every help they can to mammy and to one another and we will know they will do that. It is a big responsibility on Mary-Kate, Ruán and Íona to give mammy even more love than you gave her before this and Frances too knows that she now has the great responsibility of both mothering and fathering them as they go through life and ... we know she will give them her undying love in all its expressions as time goes by," he said. 

Speaking to Rory's family he said it was a great opportunity to love and support one another. 

"He was easy to love," he said. 

At the end of Mass Rory's sister, Patricia, read a poem that her mother wanted said: 

Don't miss me more than once a day

for life is moving fast

Don't wish all your time away 

dreaming of the past

Don't waste the time looking at

the things I've left behind me

I am not there anymore my love

your heart is where you will find me

Don't dread to say my name sweet ones

Don't fear the wrath of sadness 

Just take the love you all had for me 

and turn it into gladness

Some days your anger will rush out

your tears will find their way to me 

wherever I am then 

I will soothe them all away 

When I am gone don't miss me more 

than once or twice a day 

There's so much life to live my love 

and I will be much you all the way 

Codlaigh sámh Ruairí Bán s'againne, his sister Patricia said. 

There was great applause among the congregation.