Ex-Irish rugby player pays emotional tribute to his ‘beautiful, Limerick lady’ at funeral Mass

FORMER Munster and Ireland out-half Jeremy Staunton gently touched the coffin of his beloved wife Ruth as he walked to the lectern to give a moving eulogy at her funeral Mass this Wednesday.

As he looked down at the congregation in the full St Nessan's Church, Raheen, Limerick city, he said he and his family have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support since Ruth’s sudden passing last Friday.

“It’s blown me away. It’s blown the kids away. It's been incredible - I didn't believe humans could be like this,” said Jeremy, who made a promise to their four children - Dylan, Finn, Cian and Annabel - to do his best. 

“It will nowhere be close to what mommy did for you but I'll try,” said Jeremy, from Galbally.

The gifts to the altar reflected the life of Ruth Staunton (née Tiernan) Ballycummin Road, Raheen, and late of Ballyclough, who was only aged in her mid-40s.

A family photograph was brought to the altar as her children were the “centre of her world” and family meant everything to her; a teddy bear was going to be a present to Ruth for Mother’s Day on Sunday while piano and law books reflected both her love of music and her career as a prominent commercial solicitor. 

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Jeremy shared how they met on a night out, saying “you know, when you know”. 

“It was just that look and I knew then I was hook, line and sinker. It was the start of the whole Munster odyssey. It was January 8, 2000 against Saracens. It was the classic European Cup game in Thomond Park, 5pm, darkness and rain. The posh English lads were coming to town. 

“It came down to the dying moments. Woody (Keith Wood) got a last-minute try. The girls were studying for exams apparently. They said, if ROG (Ronan O’Gara) gets the kick, let's go out. As usual, Rog nailed it and we never looked back. It was an amazing journey we were both on.”

Jeremy (pictured below in his Ireland days) said they moved around a lot with his rugby career taking him to England but Ruth “was always by my side”.

He apologised to everyone waiting for five hours on Tuesday night to pay their respects but it showed “the love for the lady that she was”. Fighting back tears, Jeremy said they couldn't find one photo where Ruth isn't smiling.

“If you look at her on the front of the Mass booklet, she's beautiful, that glint in the eye, the smile, everything about her. That's what I was lucky to have and to witness my entire life that we had together. 

“Everyone here and everyone last night had a story about Ruth. They are of love and laughter, fun and the happy times that people had with her.”

After living in the UK and County Meath where they made countless connections and friends, they decided to return home to their native county with their four children.

“Ruth was a Limerick lady. She always wanted to come home.”

Jeremy told a story that summed up his late wife.

“Ruth decided one night, when we were all around, that she was thinking of doing the marathon. We all burst out laughing at her but she was so determined.”

On the day of the Dublin Marathon Jeremy told her he would pick her up about 10kms into the race at Castleknock College where he taught. 

“She said to meet me at the finish line in the Phoenix Park. She kept going and going and going - she never stopped. That was her in a nutshell and she did it with a smile on her face. She crossed the line, not a bother to her. She was so determined.”

Jeremy said Ruth had a fantastic outlook on life and he promised he will try and continue that on.  

“From now on, I'm going to say, what would Ruth do? I know she's here. I was looking for stuff this morning to get ready and when I opened the drawer, the first thing I saw was a photo of me and Ruth on our wedding day. She’s in her wedding dress, smiling, so beautiful, so happy,” said Jeremy, who urged the congregation to “please keep her memory alive”.

“Think of the memories, the positivity, that's what she wanted. Please promise me that. The pictures in the Mass booklet, just remember her like that. Every single photo, she's smiling and that's who she was. That's what she brought to my life. You mightn't see it on my face, but it will be inside. Trust me.”

He bravely asked mourners to smile, saying laughter is the best medicine.

“She was my medicine. Let's remember her like that, let's celebrate her, share stories about her and laugh - that's all she wanted. So let's make that promise to her today,” concluded Jeremy to warm and sustained applause as he retook his seat, again pausing to gently touch his wife’s coffin.

Chief celebrant Fr Éamonn Fitzgibbon, who said the Mass alongside 15 priests, said to Jeremy: “That takes extraordinary courage so thank you.”

Fr Fitzgibbon commenced the Mass by saying since news broke of Ruth’s passing there has been so much shock, so much sadness. He spoke of a sense of how can this be - someone so young, vibrant, full of life, and someone so essential could be gone. 

“We gather today and despite the many different emotions we feel, the one thing we all have in common is a great sadness. It all seems very unfair, and it is unfair.

“Friday should have been a day of celebration, celebrating Finn’s Confirmation. Sunday, a day of celebration, celebrating Mother's Day. It's almost like grief on top of grief. There simply are no words. All we can do is be here and be there for those who are most hurt and broken at this time,” said Fr Fitzgibbon.

Ruth was laid to rest in Castlemungret Cemetery, Mungret after the funeral Mass.

Jeremy said in his eulogy the family is fully invested in Mungret St Pauls GAA Club as Dylan, Finn, Cian and Annabel are all members of the club.

“When the guys and Annabel are kicking balls over the bar, mommy will be directly across the road. So we can always go visit her.”

May she rest in peace.