Poignant last journey through the town he loved so well

There were very moving and emotion-charged scenes in Killarney this Tuesday as the late Donal O’Grady made a poignant final journey through the streets of the town he loved and served so well.

The former Mayor of Killarney, who retired from local politics in 2023, after devoting 24 years to public service, passed away on Saturday following a very brief illness.

Hundreds of people queued at the funeral home on Monday evening and again prior to the Requiem Mass in a packed St Mary’s Cathedral this Tuesday morning to sympathise with his family and to pay tribute to a man who spent so much of his life helping others and was considered a real champion of the underdog.

In his Homily, Killarney Parish Administrator, Fr Kieran O’Brien, said it is hard to believe that just three weeks ago Donal attended Mass for deceased members in the fire station and he was looking hail, hearty and healthy so his passing at the weekend came as a huge shock to so many.

“There was a real outpouring of grief, sadness and disbelief. Donal was one of our own, a proud Killarney man who was many things to many people,” Fr O’Brien added.

He said in his political life, Donal said it as he saw it and he was so often the voice for the voiceless, advocating for better mental health services, a facility like the skate park for the young people of the town and, especially, supporting the homeless.

“Killarney was a town he loved so well and in recent days people have acknowledged his contribution and what he did for them.

“He did so many favours for so many people. He was upfront. He had his beliefs and his principles and he was never afraid to voice his opinion,” the congregation heard.

Fr O’Brien said Donal followed his father, John and brother, Seán, into politics and he was very proud to pass on the political baton to his son, Martin, seeing him co-opted and later elected in his own right.

He said Donal’s advice to Martin would be to be careful to always choose the right course, to act justly, to be of constant service and to always care for others.

Donal’s involvement in the Killarney-London reunions was also recalled and the congregation heard that he was always interested in wherever Killarney people were and what they were doing.

“He knew the importance of keeping contact and visiting the Irish abroad to let them know they were never forgotten,” Fr O’Brien stated.

The parish administrator also reflected on how Donal went about his work with the fire service with great compassion and how willing he was to help people involved in an emergency or in their hour of need.

Fr O’Brien told the O’Grady family: “In this town, he had left his mark. His name, Donal O’Grady, will certainly live on and you can all be so proud of his many achievements”.

The main celebrant at the funeral Mass was Fr Mark Moriarty and, in addition to Fr O’Brien, the other clergy presiding included Bishop Emeritus Bill Murphy, Fr Tom Looney, Fr John Ahern, Fr Jim Lenihan, Fr Paddy O’Donoghue and Rev Thady O’Connor.

Gifts brought to the altar to symbolise Donal’s life were a horse bridle to remember his great love of horses and his many visits to the jarvey stand, a rosary beads to mark his faith, a necktie with the Killarney crest in tribute to his political service, a fire helmet, a family photograph, a Kerry jersey to symbolise his love of football, a picture of his beloved Killarney and a Christmas decoration to celebrate his favourite time of the year.

In a eulogy at the close of the Requiem Mass, Donal’s son, Martin, said his father was a small man with a big heart.

“Dad always supported us and encouraged us throughout life. He taught us never to see others above or beneath us and to treat everyone equally. He passed respect, hard work and loyalty on to all of us,” he said.

“Dad was always a very proud Kerryman and proud of his home town and Beauty’s Home, Killarney.

“He cared for all people in his political life and he had a special place in his heart for the homeless. He firmly believed that every man, woman and child deserved to have a roof over their head and he was greatly saddened to see otherwise,” Martin said.

He added that his father fought with passion for Killarney and its people and he always maintained that Killarney should be the capital of Kerry.

“Killarney was his pride and joy,” Martin said.

His former colleagues in the fire service conducted a guard of honour as Donal O’Grady, made his final journey through the streets of his beloved town to his place of rest overlooking Killarney’s natural beauty at Aghadoe Lawn Cemetery.

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