The funeral of popular Buncrana man John Kelly has taken place. Mr Kelly died last week in what gardaí described as 'personal tragedy'. Originally from the Waterside area of Derry, Mr Kelly had been living in Buncrana for over 25 years. He was the long-time caretaker at both St Oran's National School, Cockhill and the Buncrana Parish. His death was met with widespread shock by the local community. On Saturday evening hundreds attended a prayer vigil. A Book of Condolences was also opened in his memory. Flanked by a garda outrider, a large crowd followed behind Mr Kelly's funeral cortege as it made its way from the family home in Knockalla Drive to St Mary's Oratory. Upon arrival the cortege was met by a guard of honour provided by staff and pupils of St Mhuire's Buncrana. Concelebrating Mr Kelly's Requiem Mass, Buncrana parish priest Fr Francis Bradley described Mr Kelly's death as a "tragedy" for his family, neighbours, staff and pupils at St Oran's and the community as a whole. Fr Bradley said: "Gardaí described John's death has a 'personal tragedy', John's death is all of that. "A personal tragedy for him, for Anita, Sean and Anna. For his birth family, for his other family in St Oran's National School, for the close-knit community at Knockalla Drive and for everyone of us here. For this parish community as a whole. "We all know the bitter loss we've suffered in his death. So untimely, so unfortunate and unneeded." Fr Bradley told parishioners of the first time he met Mr Kelly. He described him as kind and helpful. "When I first met John over seven years ago in the school in Cockhill, I remember thinking 'this man couldn't be genuine'. 'He couldn't really be that kind and helpful', but he was. "John was so kind and helpful that it was nearly annoying. He offered you his help even before you realised that you needed it yourself." Fr Bradley added that even as child, Mr Kelly was bubbly and full of joy and endless fun. The Buncrana PP told the congregation of how Mr Kelly met his wife, Anita in the
Funeral taken place of popular Buncrana man John Kelly
