THE recent death of an elderly Irishman in Manchester who had no family nearby to attend his funeral saw the community unite to give him a ‘decent send off’.
That funeral took place yesterday (September 27), where, thanks to the Council of Irish Associations in Manchester, who first raised the call for mourners to attend, John Joseph O’Brien received the service he deserved – one which saw his family and well-wishers in attendance.
However, there were many more people among the Irish community in Britain and further afield who were touched by the story, although were unable to pay their respects in person.
But they vowed to remember him yesterday, and in future, in a show of solidarity for “one of their own”.
Among them was Winchester-based Irishman Thomas Smyth, who wrote to us to share his thoughts.
Read his letter below...
He claimed the plight of Mr O’Brien has been that of many other Irish people in his own community, as he has attended funerals where “the number of mourners present could be counted on the fingers of one hand”.
“I have found them to be very lonely events,” he added, “void of the usual banter a funeral gathering of friends, relatives and family brings.”
He went on to express the importance of having people attend such services, claiming: “In a way, the small chat and sharing of memories helps with the sense of loss.”
Yesterday Mr Smyth lit a candle for Mr O’Brien in his local church in Winchester.
He has also organised for prayer intentions to be said for him at masses held at the Knock Shrine in Co. Mayo for the coming year.
Read Mr Smyth’s letter here
I would like to commend The Irish Post and the Council of Irish Associations in Manchester for the attention they have given to the late Mr O’Brien.
I have attended funerals where the number of mourners present could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
I have found them to be very lonely events, void of the usual banter a funeral gathering of friends, relatives and family brings.
In a way, the small chat and sharing of memories helps with the sense of loss.
I live too far away to attend Mr O’Brien's funeral but I will light a candle for his soul in St. Peter’s Church in Winchester, and get a share of masses said for one year at the shrine of Our Lady of Knock.
Maybe John Joseph O’Brien was a Mayo man. Maybe he was Dublin, Cork or Belfast.
We don’t know yet where he hailed from, but he was one of our own. Thank you.
Thomas Smyth, Winchester
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