Amid the rolling emotions in Donegal following the Creeslough tragedy, one voice rang out with clarity and hope at the funeral of James O’Flaherty.
His son Hamish, aged just 12, spoke to the hundreds who gathered for the Requiem Mass for his father at St Mary’s Church, Derrybeg.
And he revealed the wisdom he had gained in grief since his dad, 48, was caught up in the blast that killed him and nine others on October 7.
READ MORE: Celtic FC hold minute's silence in memory of Creeslough victims
Hamish said: “I’d like to say something which I have learned in the past week. I’d like to say that we should be grateful. For your families, cherish them, be grateful because they won’t be there forever so use the time you have wisely.
“Also be grateful for your life, that too will not last forever but be grateful for you will be able to rest after all of your hard work. Be grateful that God has given us this life and all the things in it; our families, our friends, our home and this world. It is awash with hope and love that God has given us.”
With poise and maturity beyond his age he spoke of his father, smiling as he said: “He was a great man and worked very hard each day whether it was around the house or at work.
“He had no shame which I think is a great thing to not have. He wore a jacket with a huge paint stain on the side of it, everywhere. He managed this by leaning on a wall which was still wet with paint while we were renovating a house. He wore the jacket everywhere, to the shops, to the movies, to the beach, everywhere.”
With his mother, Tracey, by his side, Hamish thanked everyone who had helped and offered help to his family and others, and made special mention of the emergency services who came to his help. He had been sitting in his father’s car as a blast ripped through the Applegreen service station.
And Tracey offered prayers to the Lafferty family, who own the service station in which her software engineer husband died.
Hamish, who had carried a white cross towards the altar ahead of the Funeral Mass, said: “I’d like to say thank you to all the people who have given and offered so many things, the emergency services too who were there within 15 minutes and also came to the wake to pay their respects during the past few days.”
His words, his bravery and his message of love triggered spontaneous applause amongst the mourners as he took his seat by his father’s coffin, an immense presence in a slight figure with a halo of blond curls.
From the altar, Fr Brian looked at Hamish and speaking in Irish he described him as brave and kind, adding: “I see your father’s spirit seeping out of you.”
Fr Brian, based in Gaoth Dobhair, said that the family had lived on the outskirts of Dunfanaghy in a beautiful home that overlooked nature: “In a home without grief or torment.”
But last Friday changed all of that, with lives lost and hearts broken, a country devastated by a deadly explosion, 10 people taken from the heart of eight families, from friends and their communities.
He described James as a hardworking man of honesty and integrity, who loved his life and his family with an intensity, who offered help and support in abundance in a moment to anyone who needed it.
He loved to play golf, to travel, he spoke French and was learning Irish. He read all of his wife’s university degree work and was a constant support for her.
In August, the native Australian had taken his son on what would be their last holiday together to Hamburg’s Lego factory, he read to his boy every night before sleep beckoned with Roald Dahl’s ‘Going Solo’, the last they read together. A copy of the book and a bar of Dairy Milk chocolate were brought to the altar as gifts.
Fr Brian said he hoped that Hamish would find comfort and support in the kindness of all those who had extended their hands to help the family.
“You are not alone in sadness. We stand with you in your grief - we stand with you in your sadness. Our hearts are like mountains in the hills of Donegal; boundless.”
And he added that the tragedy saw the boundaries of countries disappear as people reached from afar to help.
“And out of the depths of darkness came a divine light - a most beautiful divine light of kindness and friendship. Togetherness is key.
“James’ life has not ended but rather changed. Life has changed, not ended. I know you will miss him terribly. James was generous and kind and loved chatting."
Fr Brian told those who would miss James to delve into their treasure box of memories and said: “You have a treasure box you can go through all your life.”
In recent days, Hamish had given Father Brian a gift, a small silver pouch with a drawstring decorated with a rainbow. Inside the pouch there were six Lego bricks from the time the family had spent in Hamburg.
Fr Brian explained: “That spirit of giving lives on. Hamish told me about his last holidays with his dad and how they had invented their own unique pattern which is now registered.”
Fr Brian lifted the Lego and made a sign of the cross, saying that this was his special Lego shape and revealing that the little blocks could be altered again to make the first letter of James, Tracey and Hamish.
He told those gathered that when you open a box of Lego it can seem daunting mess with all the bricks are scattered throughout the box, with no pattern or plan.
He said: “It seems an impossible task. The Lego box gives us instruction and it leads to success. There are no instructions in dealing with grief. It is one brick at a time and with help and support the box can be transformed. The thing that brings us to our knees can bring us closer to God.”
Fr Brian gave young Hamish a pouch which contained his own Rosary beads, and just as Hamish had gifted the priest his treasured Lego present, and said he hoped it would help him pray and mark the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary, October 7, the same day as the Creeslough blast.
After the service, the President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Micheal Martin’s Aide de Camp Commandant Claire Mortimer spoke with the family.
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Deputy Pearse Doherty, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, Joe McHugh TD and the Mayor of Donegal, Councillor Liam Blaney also attended alongside members of Donegal County Council, An Garda Síochána, emergency services personnel, doctors and staff of the medical centre, the Northern Ireland rescue and fire services.
Teachers too were present from the Faugher National School and pupils from Hamish’s class stood in a guard of honour outside the church to honour their friend.
James O’Flaherty, the third to be buried from the Creeslough tragedy, was laid to rest by the sea in Machaire Gathlán cemetery under the gaze of the majestic Mount Errigal, the place he called home.
Read next:
- Applegreen donates €50,000 to Creeslough victims fund
- Girl, 5, and dad killed in Creeslough explosion as more victims named
- Creeslough tragedy dead named as families and friends pay tribute
- Vigil for Creeslough victims to be held at Derry's Guildhall
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