MOURNERS HEAR FUNERAL TRIBUTE TO GREAT FAMILY MAN AND FRIEND TO ALL
Mourners hear funeral tribute to 'great family man and friend to all'
29th victim of bomb atrocity is buried
A FRIEND to everyone was how Sean McGrath, the 29th victim of the Omagh bomb atrocity, was remembered at his funeral on Monday.
The service took place in St. Mary's Church, Killyclogher, where he had been a devout worshipper for many years.
Mr McGrath was born at Market Street, where he took over the family business, and where, by a twist of fate, he sustained the injuries which ultimately proved fatal.
Mourners heard the Auxiliary Bishop of Derry, Dr Francis Lagan, say that those who carried out the bombing knew where they stood in the eyes of the people of Ireland, and should forever hang their heads in shame.
The parish priest, Rev. Francis Murray, told the mourners who crowded into the church that they assembled in the darkness and gloom of death.
He extended sympathy on behalf of the priests of the parish to all in the McGrath family circle.
"It is our prayers for you that God comfort and console you in your irreparable loss and indeed a loss that is sustained by all of us who had the great privilege to have known Sean in this parish and in the community beyond," he said.
And Fr Murray said he had been asked to pass on the sympathies of President Mary McAleece, who is on a State visit to Australia. He said she had met and known Mr McGrath.
He said that not only had the McGrath family been bereaved, the parish had lost one of its most highly esteemed parishioners.
He described Mr McGrath as a man of deep faith, immense charity, a devout Catholic and a truly outstanding member of the community.
Mr McGrath was a great family man, a wonderful husband and a friend to all, said Fr. Murray.
Over the past few weeks, family members had held a constant vigil at Mr McGrath's bedside, hoping and praying that he would survive the horrific injuries he had sustained in the bombing in Market Street, Fr Murray went on.
He said he visited Mr McGrath in the Royal Victoria Hospital last week and his hopes had been raised that he would pull through.
The most prominent emotions for those who mourned were grief and bewilderment, Fr Murray said the death of Mr McGrath and so many others had confronted all with their own frailties.
Temptations
There were, he said, two temptations. One was to try to rationalise what had happened, and, in so doing, close minds to what undoubtedly had been a very major tragedy.
"The second temptation is to let it become larger that life, and let the shadow of today darken the sunlight of all our tomorrows," he went on.
He said he had no neat formulas or simple solutions to offer. He added, though "We will work through this, to live, love and laugh again. The thing that will enable us to do that is faith in God.
"Hold on to your faith in God, never, never, let it go," he said.
Dr. Lagan, said the loss of Mr McGrath was particularly poignant because, for three weeks, the family hoped he would survive. Sadly, the Bishop said, that was not to be.
"Enough has been said about those who carried out the evil act that caused Sean's death," he went on.
"They know, how they stand in the eyes of the people of Omagh and the entire country, and should forever hang their heads in shame."
"Today, we would rather talk not about agents of death, but rather about agents of life, those doctors and nurses who tried so valiantly to restore Sean to life, and who will be disappointed that it was in vain and, with them, we salute the doctors, nurses and ancillary staff of all the hospitals who have done, and are still doing, so much for the injured.
"We want to talk also about Sean McGrath, who was a man who stood for all that is good in life a good husband, a good neighbour and friend.
"Those who knew him use, very naturally, words like uprightness integrity and generosity when describing him", he said.
Turning to relatives the Bishop went on "These are wonderful and enduring qualities which must make you, his family, in spite of your pain of loss, very proud of him.
"May you be sustained by the good memories you have of his love and care, and may you be helped by the support and prayers of this community who are united by a grief that has touched us all", he said.
A tribute to Mr McGrath was paid by a lifelong friend, Eilish Gallagher.
She said she had known him since he was a boy who slipped downstairs from his home to his father's shop.
Business was in his blood and he took on the family business after his father died, she said.
Love
She said she would remember Mr. McGrath for his love for people, his Christianity, his twinkling eye, wit and sense of humour.
"He loved his town, being an Omagh man born in Market Street and then so tragically killed from Market Street," she said.
"Sean will be remembered for being Sean, a loving father, devoted husband and loving brother. He was, firstly, loyal to his family, emphasising all that is good in the Christian way of life.
Small in stature but large in heart his life mirrored peace with himself and God.
"His life revolved around the Christian message. I will always feel the better for knowing him." She said.
During the service lessons were read by Mr. McGrath's daughter, Noeleen, and nephew, Paul McGrath.
The offertory gifts were presented by Mr. McGrath's brothers, Danny and Noel, and their wives, Carmel and Marie.
Other clergy who took part in the service included Rev. Kevin Mullan, curate of Christ the King Church, Rev. Michael Mullan, curate of Knockmoyle, Rev. Thomas Canning, curate of Killyclogher, and Rev. Eugene Hasson, Tyrone County Hospital chaplain.
Among the mourners were many business and civic leaders, including the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, members of Omagh District Council, Mid Ulster PM, Mr Martin McGuinness, and West Tyrone Assemblymen, Mr Pat Doherty and Mr Barry McElduff.
Relatives of some of the 28 other victims of the bomb attack were also present.
After the service, Mr. McGrath's remains were carried from the church to a horse-drawn hearse and on to the Dublin Road cemetery for burial.
Mr. McGrath is survived by his wife, Nuala, sons Conor and Gavan, and daughters Noeleen and Cara.
29th victim of bomb atrocity is buried
A FRIEND to everyone was how Sean McGrath, the 29th victim of the Omagh bomb atrocity, was remembered at his funeral on Monday.
The service took place in St. Mary's Church, Killyclogher, where he had been a devout worshipper for many years.
Mr McGrath was born at Market Street, where he took over the family business, and where, by a twist of fate, he sustained the injuries which ultimately proved fatal.
Mourners heard the Auxiliary Bishop of Derry, Dr Francis Lagan, say that those who carried out the bombing knew where they stood in the eyes of the people of Ireland, and should forever hang their heads in shame.
The parish priest, Rev. Francis Murray, told the mourners who crowded into the church that they assembled in the darkness and gloom of death.
He extended sympathy on behalf of the priests of the parish to all in the McGrath family circle.
"It is our prayers for you that God comfort and console you in your irreparable loss and indeed a loss that is sustained by all of us who had the great privilege to have known Sean in this parish and in the community beyond," he said.
And Fr Murray said he had been asked to pass on the sympathies of President Mary McAleece, who is on a State visit to Australia. He said she had met and known Mr McGrath.
He said that not only had the McGrath family been bereaved, the parish had lost one of its most highly esteemed parishioners.
He described Mr McGrath as a man of deep faith, immense charity, a devout Catholic and a truly outstanding member of the community.
Mr McGrath was a great family man, a wonderful husband and a friend to all, said Fr. Murray.
Over the past few weeks, family members had held a constant vigil at Mr McGrath's bedside, hoping and praying that he would survive the horrific injuries he had sustained in the bombing in Market Street, Fr Murray went on.
He said he visited Mr McGrath in the Royal Victoria Hospital last week and his hopes had been raised that he would pull through.
The most prominent emotions for those who mourned were grief and bewilderment, Fr Murray said the death of Mr McGrath and so many others had confronted all with their own frailties.
Temptations
There were, he said, two temptations. One was to try to rationalise what had happened, and, in so doing, close minds to what undoubtedly had been a very major tragedy.
"The second temptation is to let it become larger that life, and let the shadow of today darken the sunlight of all our tomorrows," he went on.
He said he had no neat formulas or simple solutions to offer. He added, though "We will work through this, to live, love and laugh again. The thing that will enable us to do that is faith in God.
"Hold on to your faith in God, never, never, let it go," he said.
Dr. Lagan, said the loss of Mr McGrath was particularly poignant because, for three weeks, the family hoped he would survive. Sadly, the Bishop said, that was not to be.
"Enough has been said about those who carried out the evil act that caused Sean's death," he went on.
"They know, how they stand in the eyes of the people of Omagh and the entire country, and should forever hang their heads in shame."
"Today, we would rather talk not about agents of death, but rather about agents of life, those doctors and nurses who tried so valiantly to restore Sean to life, and who will be disappointed that it was in vain and, with them, we salute the doctors, nurses and ancillary staff of all the hospitals who have done, and are still doing, so much for the injured.
"We want to talk also about Sean McGrath, who was a man who stood for all that is good in life a good husband, a good neighbour and friend.
"Those who knew him use, very naturally, words like uprightness integrity and generosity when describing him", he said.
Turning to relatives the Bishop went on "These are wonderful and enduring qualities which must make you, his family, in spite of your pain of loss, very proud of him.
"May you be sustained by the good memories you have of his love and care, and may you be helped by the support and prayers of this community who are united by a grief that has touched us all", he said.
A tribute to Mr McGrath was paid by a lifelong friend, Eilish Gallagher.
She said she had known him since he was a boy who slipped downstairs from his home to his father's shop.
Business was in his blood and he took on the family business after his father died, she said.
Love
She said she would remember Mr. McGrath for his love for people, his Christianity, his twinkling eye, wit and sense of humour.
"He loved his town, being an Omagh man born in Market Street and then so tragically killed from Market Street," she said.
"Sean will be remembered for being Sean, a loving father, devoted husband and loving brother. He was, firstly, loyal to his family, emphasising all that is good in the Christian way of life.
Small in stature but large in heart his life mirrored peace with himself and God.
"His life revolved around the Christian message. I will always feel the better for knowing him." She said.
During the service lessons were read by Mr. McGrath's daughter, Noeleen, and nephew, Paul McGrath.
The offertory gifts were presented by Mr. McGrath's brothers, Danny and Noel, and their wives, Carmel and Marie.
Other clergy who took part in the service included Rev. Kevin Mullan, curate of Christ the King Church, Rev. Michael Mullan, curate of Knockmoyle, Rev. Thomas Canning, curate of Killyclogher, and Rev. Eugene Hasson, Tyrone County Hospital chaplain.
Among the mourners were many business and civic leaders, including the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, members of Omagh District Council, Mid Ulster PM, Mr Martin McGuinness, and West Tyrone Assemblymen, Mr Pat Doherty and Mr Barry McElduff.
Relatives of some of the 28 other victims of the bomb attack were also present.
After the service, Mr. McGrath's remains were carried from the church to a horse-drawn hearse and on to the Dublin Road cemetery for burial.
Mr. McGrath is survived by his wife, Nuala, sons Conor and Gavan, and daughters Noeleen and Cara.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1156
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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