Heartbroken mourners at Dublin “all-time great” Brian Mullins’ funeral were told heaven is now “decked in sky blue”.
Brian died last Friday, aged 68, at St Francis Hospice in Raheny, north Dublin, following a short illness after a brain tumour cancer diagnosis. His partner Elizabeth, wife Helen, sons Bernard, Padraig and Nathan, daughter Jackie, and 10 grandchildren were among his loved ones yesterday for the funeral Mass at St Vincent de Paul Church in nearby Marino and burial in Balgriffin.
Brian’s wife Helen and seven of their grandchildren delivered gifts to the altar at the start of the Mass, including bicycle enthusiast Brian’s helmet, an Irish language book, photos of Brian with his grandchildren, Dublin and St Vincent’s GAA jerseys, and a plate from Donegal. Fr Eamonn Bourke told them that meeting GAA legend Brian, who worked as a school teacher before becoming Director of Sport at University College Dublin in his last job, was like a dream.
Read more: Funeral arrangements announced for Dublin GAA legend Brian Mullins
He added: “Brian’s short illness took everyone by surprise and everyone who loved him is saddened by his loss. Brian’s illness brings home to all of us the frailty and vulnerability of us as human beings.”
Fr Bourke, 52, from Ballymun in North Dublin, worked with Brian as chaplain at UCD for six years and administered the Last Rites to him. He said he fought “desperately to beat cancer” after his operation at Beaumont Hospital in May.
Fr Bourke said: “There are a lot of nervous people in heaven. They are shaking in their boots. They are the members of the Kerry, Meath, Mayo and Galway teams. They are shaking because Dublin now has a new midfielder, a formidable force. They also have a bainisteoir extraordinaire. It’s going to be some match in heaven.” He added: “Today, heaven is decked in sky blue.”
Following a huge round of applause, six grandchildren then read the Prayers of the Faithful, while Brian’s daughter Jackie and son Padraig took bread and wine to the altar. Brian’s partner Elizabeth delivered an emotional reflection, reading the memorial poem I’m Free, while Brian’s eldest son Bernard delivered the eulogy.
He said: “Dad was always brave and in the thick of it. He fell from the tallest trees in Clontarf Castle and broke all the branches on the way down. Fireworks exploded in his face and our poor mother picked shrapnel out of his eye with tweezers.
“Dad never shirked a challenge. Our dad, from an early age, would never back down. He always went head first into everything he did. Our mum and dad knew each other from the age of 12 as part of the same friends’ group and eventually became a couple at the age of 17.
Read more: Dublin football legend Brian Mullins passes away aged 68
“St Vincent’s GAA is where our dad found his clan, his tribe, his gang. He was a true clubman… and loved every minute of it. He told us that what was important is, ‘Who wanted to win more?’ and, ‘Who was willing to work harder?’ My dad lived by this mantra and applied it to all aspects of his life.
“My dad went on to become one of the most celebrated midfielders in Ireland and he deserved it; he had it all. My dad crashed in 1980 and nearly killed himself. He was told that he would never play football again. During recovery, he asked a friend to remove the front passenger seat of our parents’ car so he could sit on the back seat in a full body cast with his legs extended.
“He asked mum to drive us to Parnell Park to watch the Dubs train. His accident and famous return to Dublin is the most documented part of my dad’s life, but this is only a fraction of what made him our dad. He was a wonderful father and an incredible grandfather.”
President Michael D Higgins was represented at the funeral by his Aide-de-Camp Col Stephen Howard, Taoiseach Micheal Martin was represented by his Aide De Camp Commandant Claire Mortimer, while GAA president Larry McCarthy and his wife Barbara, and St Vincent’s GAA club’s Mickey Whelan were also present.
Brian’s friend Larry, who was a teammate at Thomond College in Limerick, said in his tribute in recent days: “He is rightly regarded as one of the greatest Gaelic footballers of all time and holds a legendary place in the hearts of Dublin football fans.” Also attending the funeral were former GAA and Ireland soccer great Kevin Moran, RTE broadcaster Marty Morrissey, GAA commentator Micheal O Muircheartaigh and Dublin players past and present including Brian Fenton.
READ NEXT:
Lucky escape for TD as thugs 'reach for weapon' during daylight bike robbery in Ballsbridge
Meningococcal meningitis symptoms as HSE investigate four cases including two deaths
Penneys and Girls Aloud launch new pyjama line in memory of Sarah Harding
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
