THE daughter of former RTÉ sports broadcaster Colm Murray has said that her late father’s battle with motor neurone disease “broke our hearts”.
Kate Murray was speaking during the funeral mass for the much-loved broadcaster who died on Monday.
Hundreds of mourners including Irish President Michael D. Higgins attended today’s mass in St Gabriel’s Church, Dollymount, Dublin.
His wife Anne, daughters Kate and Patricia and his sister Mary were accompanied by his extended family and friends to say a final farewell.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny was represented by his aide-de-camp.
The chief celebrant of the mass was Fr Jimmy Murray, who taught Colm Murray when he was at school in Moate, Co Westmeath.
Among the other mourners were former Taoisigh Liam Cosgrave and Brian Cowen; colleagues from RTÉ down through the years including Anne Doyle, Charlie Bird, Jimmy Magee; RTÉ director general Noel Curran, broadcasters Joe Duffy, Miriam O’Callaghan, Sean O’Rourke, David Davin Power and Des Cahill.
Ireland rugby player Brian O’Driscoll was also present.
In his homily, Fr Murray said Colm had loved life and was interested in the ordinary and he made the ordinary interesting.
Fr Murray said he never outgrew the area where he grew up and he never let his people down.
Mr Murray was later laid to rest at St Fintan's Cemetery in Sutton.
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