These are some things I will remember about yesterday’s wonderful celebration of the life of Martin McGuinness in Derry.
- The presence of Fr Des Wilson, 91 years young, who travelled from Belfast.
2 Bill Clinton’s description of Martin as a man ‘not just with a good heart but with a big heart that reached out to all especially the poor’.
- Shaking hands with Bill Clinton in the church, thanking him for his words and him saying he appreciated that.
- The beautiful singing and music.
- The wide cross section of people who came to the Requiem Mass in the Long Tower church.
- The huge crowds of his friends and supporters who assembled outside to applaud.
- The gentle greetings of so many lovely Derry people that I had not seen for quite some time.
I was one of about twenty priests who concelebrated the Requiem Mass. There were bishops and representatives of the other churches present. Rev. Good and Rev. Latimer were eloquent in their words of encouragement and sympathy. There were politicians of all the parties in Ireland – north and south. There were relatives of Bloody Sunday. There were young people and older people and people of all different political persuasions.
It really was a day to remember and savour in the Bogside. After the Mass people congregated and talked outside the church. The sun was shining. There was a lovely feeling of friendship and solidarity. Yesterday, there is much sadness in Derry and in the Bogside. There were three funerals in St Columba’s yesterday. The funeral took place also yesterday of Ryan McBride, captain of Derry City who died suddenly last Sunday. There was another funeral and then there was the funeral of Martin McGuinness former Deputy Minister in the north’s executive. Many people in Derry are heart-broken at this time but their sorrow has been eased by the support of so many people in the city and from all over the world.
The Funeral Mass was a wonderful celebration of a man who reached out to all sections of our community. Afterwards, I met many old friends. One dear friend I met, hobbling along on crutches, was Jude Collins who made a joke about kicking with the wrong foot, referring to a broken foot received while out jogging. Hope you are soon back on both feet and able to dance again!
Martin McGuinness has left us some legacy which was recognised today by Gerry Adams at the City cemetery. He said that nobody should show disrespect to the Unionist people but that we, nationalists and republicans, should follow in Martin’s footsteps in reaching out to our unionist neighbours. It was the only way forward. We all want political progress. Next week the parties will go back to talking about moving the peace process forward.
Today, we think of Martin’s heartbroken wife, Bernie and his daughters and sons, brothers and sister and grandchildren and many relatives. We hope that they got some comfort and consolation from the outpouring of love at yesterday’s ceremonies.
Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
It was indeed Fr Joe a sad,poignant, and emotionally moving funeral occasion yesterday. I attended and met Martin’s brother, Declan, who was in my year at St Columbs and whom I had not seen since 1974. And again, as with Martin, Declan was warm, charming and genuinely glad to see me. I thought all the speeches, orations and eulogies were fitting and measured, and tinged with a genuine and natural warmth and affection for Martin. And as I said to his wife Bernie before I left….” Martin was a good man, a very good man, no matter what his detractors may say, and he will be seen in time to have been a great man “.
The goodwill was palpable on the streets of Derry yesterday. The respect and the unity demonstrated by the thousands of people attending was a great tribute to Martin and to his beliefs and aspirations.
The Requiem Mass was dignified, as were the orations, tributes and prayers. I have no doubt that it caused much reflection both within St. Columba’s and with the many thousands without.
I too pray that Martin’s legacy and that sense of unity and goodwill will now see a resurgence and determination for peace, reconciliation within our communities and ultimately the reunification of Ireland – a New Ireland of Equals.
Dia déan trócaire ar anam Martin. Go mbeidh sé ar neamh leis Laochra na hÉireann.
The ‘another’ funeral at 12 pm, in the Long Tower Church, was of Hugo Gallagher from Beechwood Street RIP…one street over from the Street where Martin grew up in.