Eneas McDonnell

The sudden and unexpected death of Eneas McDonnell on Friday, August 17, cast a cloud of shock and intense grief over his family and a large area of the west of Ireland.

Eneas, a native of Erriff Bridge, was son of the late Mark and Mary (nee Tunney) McDonnell and was a prominent figure in the local farming community.

He had a wide variety of interests, including sheep, cattle and dogs. An avid reader, with a great interest in current affairs, he looked forward to the Farmers Journal and The Mayo News each week and the Irish Independent whenever he could get his hands on it. Daily weather updates were important to Eneas because of his extensive farming activities.

He was a real people’s person, a keen listener and a sharp observer of all that went on around him. Given his generous nature, he was always anxious to help others in any way he could. Card-playing was one of his favourite recreational pastimes. He was an avid sporting enthusiast with a particular interest in boxing.

In April 1965 Eneas married Nellie Gavin who became his wife and life partner. They moved to Aillebaun where their seven children were born, Mary T, Helena, Mark, Michéal, Breda, Julie and Eneas Gerard. Sadly, Eneas Gerard passed away a short time after birth.

The huge respect and affection that Eneas enjoyed with everybody who knew him was reflected in the enormous crowds of mourners that attended his removal and funeral Mass, a massive tribute to a towering figure who touched so many lives.

He will be very sadly missed by his beloved wife Nellie (nee Gavin, Roigh), sons Mark McDonnell (Rijen, Netherlands), MicheΡl McDonnell (Erriff, Leenane), daughters Mary T McDonnell (Dublin), Helena Darcy (Ballinamore), Breda McDonnell (Dublin) and Julie Patterson (Maynooth), brothers Marcus McDonnell (London) and Willie McDonnell (Erriff Bridge), sister Delia McGuinness (Crossmolina), sons-in-law John Darcy and John Patterson, daughters-in-law Mary and Brenda, grandchildren Thomas, Aoife, Gavin, Ella, Eoghan, Sarah, Michael, Maria, Anna and Leah, other relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

As well as baby Eneas Gerard, Eneas was also predeceased by his brother John-Joe McDonnell and grandson Caelan McDonnell.

Removal was from Mc Gings Funeral Home, Westport, to The Church of the Sacred Heart, Cushlough, where Fr Jackie Conroy, Parish Priest of Aughagower/Cushlough, officiated at the reception ceremony.

A community guard of honour flanked the hearse as it arrived, a poignant tribute to an outstanding community man.

The concelebrants of Eneas’s funeral Mass were Fr. Conroy, Fr. MicheΡl Mac Gréil (homilist), Fr Kieran Burke, PP Leenane, and Fr Francis Judge, PP Crossmolina.

Fr Conroy, a personal friend of Eneas, summed him up saying “he was big in stature, big in heart, big in commitment, a marvellous listener and he had time for everybody”.

MicheΡl, Eneas’s son and trusted farming companion, explained the gifts offered before Eneas’s burial Mass, symbols to sum up a man whose life had enriched all those he touched.

The Rosary Beads and Holy Water symbolised Eneas’s strong and silent faith, present but not paraded. Each morning Eneas greeted the new day with a prayer and bade farewell to the day sprinkling Holy Water for those who had gone before him, and those who were dear to him.

A family portrait and picture of his grandchildren, symbolised Eneas’s deep commitment and unconditional love for his family. Primarily a people’s man, Eneas truly believed in the power of the person. He loved the craic and a good story but was just as content to observe and listen if the situation demanded.

His son Mark in the eulogy said; “if I could sum up my father’s life I would say he brought a real living experience of magic to the lives of the people he knew and met. He brought the space of the Erriff valley to all the people he met. He was willing to allow people to be as they were-he did not set out to change them.”

This is how he touched others. This especially applied to his wife and six children. He had a way of seeing you when you needed it most.

While always playful the arrival of Eneas’s grandchildren unveiled a more childlike playfulness of the 6’6” gentle giant. He was often spotted down on all fours in the kitchen playing ‘horsey’ with enthusiastic tots. He loved taking the grandchildren farming with him passing on to them his love of open space, nature and the land. Something his six children also enjoyed as children and young adults.

A picture of sheep, walking stick and cap symbolised Eneas’s way of life. He walked miles on a daily basis, never wanting to be confined, preferring the open space of the Erriff valley - along the road, Finnegan’s Stream and Denis’s farm - and his walking stick was essential. His cap went on before he went out the front door. He only needed the top of his head to be warm. For social occasions the cap was sacrificed in favour of his wave which he tirelessly fixed.

Michael said The Farmers Journal symbolised his Dad’s inquisitive, curious mind. If it was not read all at once then surely over the day. The same could be said of The Mayo News and the Irish Independent. A regular attender at marts and fairs throughout the west of Ireland, he thought nothing of walking cattle from Clifden to Westport. If questioned on how he could bring cattle such a long distance in the days when fences were scarce if they existed at all, he’d smile his knowing smile and say “all I needed was a good dog”. Indeed Eneas was always in pursuit of a good dog and came home from many the fair with another potentially famous dog. His pride in a dog well trained at work was something to behold and often admired by passers-by and tourists on the Leenane Road. Eneas delighted in a chance meeting of a passer-by and would talk to anyone as he went about his work and on occasions was known to embellish a story, otherwise dull.

A handful of soil symbolised Eneas’s lifetime devotion to the land. A long-term ambition for Eneas was to transform his land in Erriff and Denis’s farm to natural green. A laborious project started in 1979, it was completed this decade.

The death of Eneas has left a big void and scar in the lives of all his friends but especially that of his adoring wife and six children. This void and scar will take time to heal but much comfort will be gained from the fact that Eneas was a man who went out to meet life in his own way and lived it to the fullest. Whether this was out in the wide open spaces among the sheep and cattle, meeting friends in the pub, at the card games or chance meetings, every moment was a moment well lived. The friends that he leaves behind with the stories of his many encounters are comforting and again serve to confirm how lucky we are to have lived in the presence of this big man from the valley,” said MicheΡl.

In the Mass homily, Fr MicheΡl Mac Gréil, family friend and  homilist said in life Eneas did not fear death and his deep faith in God would carry him home. His competence as afamily man, farmer, jobber, neighbour and friend earned for Eneas high prestige in society, while his character and approach to people won for him the esteem of almost everyone who got to know him. He was, indeed, the best of company.

Fr MicheΡl added

“Ta fear mor an ghleanna imithe abhaile anois.

Safe home and rest in peace.

Thank you Eneas for being yourself.”

Eneas was laid to rest in the family grave in the Cemetery of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Cushlough, on Monday, August 20.May his noble soul rest in peace

Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated in Cushlough on Saturday, September 15, 2012, at 12 noon.

Dontions in Eneas’s memory may be made to the Gena Heraty Haiti Fund.

“Those we laughed with, learned from, leaned on and loved most, leave us the best memories.”