Brendan’s wife Miriam, his brother Michael, sister Maria and the extended families would like to thank very sincerely all those who sympathised with us on his recent passing.

We would like to thank the medical, nursing, care staff and pastoral team in the Bon Secours Hospital in Glasnevin for their care of Brendan over the course of his treatment since November last year. We would also like to thank our local Pharmacy O’Regan in Clontarf who were so helpful throughout his illness, and Vernon Medical Clinic for responding promptly when needed.

We would like to thank Brendan’s friend of many years - Fr. Ciaran Enright - for visiting him in hospital a few days before he passed away and for celebrating his funeral Mass, and to thank also his cousin Fr. Bernard Murphy O.Carm and Fr. Derek Doyle PP (who knew Brendan from his time in Rathdrum BNS) for concelebrating the Mass in the beautiful church of St. Kevin in Glendalough.  It was Brendan’s wish in his final days that he would be buried from the Church where he and Miriam were married, and we are so grateful that it was possible to do so.

A special thanks to the teachers from Wicklow and Wexford who formed the guard of honour at the Church, and to Geraldine for the beautiful music in the church, and Ailish for the lovely violin rendition of "The Marino Waltz" at the graveside. And thanks to all his friends from Rathdrum BNS and Wicklow Travellers Group for all their support and kindness.

We also want to say a special “thank you” to everyone who called to the house after we brought Brendan home, and to the many people who filled the gaps left by departed family members in so many ways over those days: the “hosts and hostesses” who made endless cups of tea, collected trays of sandwiches, served refreshments, brought cakes and other goodies, and especially the “borrowed”  pall bearers – Eugene, Victor and Jimmy among them – who carried the coffin through the ancient gates of the monastic city in Glendalough to Brendan’s final resting place in the shadow of the great round tower.

We thank also the many people who have sent cards and letters in the weeks following his death, as word of his demise filtered through to people around Ireland and further afield.  Also those who sent floral tributes. Thanks also to the many people who watched his funeral Mass remotely, as the numbers who could be accommodated in the church were small, due to covid restrictions in an already small space.

Our thanks to his old friends in Brennan Woulahan Funeral Directors in Rathdrum – Bernadette, Eugene and Tony - for looking after his funeral and final journey with respect and dignity.

Brendan’s Months Mind was celebrated in his home parish on 14th November – our thanks to local parish priest Fr. Pat McManus for celebrating the Mass, and lovely that it coincided with the feast of St. Laurence O’Toole, given his association with Glendalough.

A final word of thanks to the late Fr. Oliver Crotty and to Fr. Michael Rodgers (both Glendalough), who were so kind to us when Brendan’s condition deteriorated over the summer.

Mass will be offered in appreciation of everyone’s kindness at a difficult time.

"In ár gcuimhne go deo"