Hundreds attend funeral for man ‘of great character’

HUNDREDS of people have attended the funeral of a Sixmilecross man who died suddenly on St Stephen’s Day.

Requiem Mass for Darragh Owens took place in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Beragh on New Year’s Day. He was the son of Fidelma Owens and is survived by his mother, uncles, aunts, cousins and a large family circle.

Parish Priest, Fr Sean McCartan, said that Mr Owens was someone whom, just a week previously, had been sitting down to enjoy his Christmas dinner with his mother.

“The last six days have been like an outpouring of love. All those people who gathered around to support and carry and journey through the awful ups and downs and all the lovely stories were carried into Fidelma’s home with little gems of treasured memories of Darragh,” he said.

“Darragh is remembered for good deeds. He did that graciousness and kindness to other people that very often no-one heard or knew about.

“He was a man of great character, doing right, living right, being right and knowing the difference between what brings life to others and sometimes brings despair. All of those things mattered to him.

“Someone said that Darragh crammed more into his short life than most of us would ever do in a whole lifetime.

“He travelled, experienced the world, and witnessed all those other cultures.” Fr McCartan said that Mr Owens had worked hard, earning the respect of many.

“Darragh’s feet were always very firmly on the ground. He knew who he was,” he added.

“He had a very happy and full life. There were golden moments along the way that we all will cherish.”

“I’m glad that this Christmas was special and that you enjoyed Christmas Day in a way that was particularly meaningful and that Darragh, for once in his life, was not rushing back to work and that you had that easy time together to chat, talk and share fellowship.”

After the Mass, Mr Owens was laid to rest in the cemetery attached to St Patrick’s Church, Aughnagar.