Last goodbye to the Saint and Virginia
But it was worth it for the memories, which were in abundance. Of times, and places, and people. And of symbols.
The football and the Rags jersey, brought to the altar by former Logstown neighbour Pat Lynch and lifelong friend Michael Lambe. "He had an abiding love of GAA and particularly his own club in Kilcullen," said Bernard Berney, who narrated a thoughtful preamble to the funeral mass in Kilcullen's parish church for Donal and his late wife Virginia.
A key of his regular room in Bardons. Always left in advance with Ger Peacocke because Donal would typically arrive in the early morning before Bardons was open, 'and it seemed sensible that he could spend the day at rest before the exertions of the evening in downtown Kilcullen', as Bernard observed.
The 'Freeman of Kilcullen' plaque brought up by Richie Kelly, recalling one of the surprise parties sprung on Donal in the village. "All done in fun, but I'll not forget that night," Bernard said, and then mused on the more recent surprise 80th birthday party in Fallons, with family and 'a whole myriad of his friends, a beautiful occasion'. "And wasn't it great that that party was done when he could enjoy it?"
The two photos, of Virginia and Donal on their wedding day in New Jersey and of the couple in Bardons on Virginia's last visit to Kilcullen. "It is an an honour that they chose our community to be their last resting place."
During the mass, Fr Martin Harte recalled his own experiences with Donal in the short few years since he came here. "When he was home we'd share conversations, stories, a couple of drinks. It only seems a few weeks ago that we walked up the town together and I said goodby to him outside Bardons. I little knew that it was the last time we'd say goodbye."
The eulogy from Jim Collins could have been long, because there was a lifetime which could have been remembered, but he chose short. "We all share the family's grief today … he celebrated his 80th birthday, but he had never grown old ... he could talk with people aged 18-80, and everybody was drawn to him because of his light-hearted approach to life ... and he would be happy to know that we are all here today, together."
At the graveyard came the final goodbye as the twin caskets of ashes were placed in Donal's parents' grave, to John Kelly's rendition of 'The Curragh of Kildare'.
Beyond the graveyard wall, on the January-cold waters of the Liffey near Berney's Inch where Donal would have spent many hours while growing up, I could see a pair of young swans. Recently new to the river and on the journey of their own long life together. It seemed extraordinarily symbolic and appropriate.
