Died 15 February 2022

Billy’s sons and daughters, Michael, Liam, Maurice, Liz and Sara; his grandchildren, Dara, Patrick, Sinead, Michelle, Emma, Fiona, Ina, Kimberley, Jean and Murray; his sisters Maura Roche and Carmel Biggins; his daughters-in-law, Teresa, Noreen and Brid; and his son-in-law Paul Bree; brother-in-law; sisters-in-law; nephews; and nieces would like to acknowledge the many gestures of kindness, sympathy and support shown to us at the time of Billy’s sudden death and in the months since.

We would like to thank our extended family, our kind neighbours and all of the many friends who called to the house to sympathise with us and those who left in food, sent such heart-warming messages, Mass cards, sympathy cards, letters, floral wreaths and online condolences. The warm tributes by his journalistic colleagues in the Mayo News, Connacht Tribune, Western People, the Connaught Telegraph and the Mayo Advertiser and his good friend Michael Commins who delivered a glowing commendation of Billy on Mid-West Radio, were much appreciated and comforting. Likewise, the support of his former teaching colleagues in Ballinrobe CBS and Ballinrobe Community School was deeply appreciated during the difficult days after his passing.

Thank you to all who visited the funeral home, attended Billy’s funeral Mass and burial, lined the route of his final journey and joined in the celebration of his life via live stream. Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin raged in mid-February and travelling to the funeral proved impossible for many and a hazardous course of action for those who did attend.

Our heartfelt appreciation to Fr Michael Gormally for celebrating the funeral Mass and offering such a beautiful personal tribute to his former colleague in Ballinrobe Community School. Thanks also to Jarlath Walsh, the sacristan; John Lane, for his fabulous music; Gerry Donnelly for the live stream; and the gravediggers. Thanks to Fr John Kenny, PP, Partry, for attending to the burial rites. The clerk of the weather was definitely not in a benign mood as Billy was being buried. That epic hailstone shower, of Shakespearean proportions, made an already difficult task even more arduous but Michael Coyne delivered a gracious graveside oration that was truly fitting for his lifelong friend. Thank you, Michael.

The rousing rendition at the graveside of that great song of hope, Anois Teacht an Earraigh, was as beautiful as it was unexpected. Thank you to our cousins, the Killeens, and their musically gifted friends for that wonderful moment.

Special thanks to the doctors, nurses and caring staff of Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, for their great care of Billy during his short stay there. From the moment he arrived in the hospital, staff could not have been more helpful. They made his final hours more comfortable for him and more tolerable for us. Thanks to Dr Martin Finnerty, Billy’s GP and neighbour, and Margaret Murphy, another neighbour and former work colleague, who was such a dear friend to Billy over many years.

Thank you to Richard and Vincent Cummins of Cummins Funeral Directors for their professionalism, kindness and sensitivity to all of us. No stone was left unturned by them.

Thanks to Ballinrobe GAA club and Ballinrobe Racecourse for organising guards of honour during the days of Billy’s funeral, and to the South Mayo and Mayo GAA Boards for their thoughtfulness. Special reference must be made to Ballinrobe Active Retirement Association who remembered Billy and his late wife Ina in a touching Mass in April. Thanks to all those who posted messages of sympathy on MidWestRadio.ie, RIP.ie, Facebook.com and various other forums.

If we have omitted anyone, please accept our apologies. As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, we trust that this acknowledgement will be accepted by all as a token of our sincere appreciation. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for your intentions. Billy’s influence on all of our lives was profound and long-lasting and he is greatly missed by all of us each and every day, and by his extended family and large circle of friends. We trust that Ina and Billy are now reunited together in Heaven.

Ní imithe uainn, ach imithe romhainn.