The family of the late Tommy McGuirk of Cornacrew, Ballybay, would like to thank all of those who sympathised with them on their recent bereavement, and all of those who provided such excellent care to Tommy over the course of his short illness.

In particular, we would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff in the Ballybay Medical Centre, Cavan General Hospital, and the St. Vincents Ward in the Mater Hospital in Dublin for their kindness to Tommy in his final weeks.

We would like to thank all those who helped with the funeral – in particular Padraig Ward and his team at Ward’s Funeral Directors for his compassionate, comforting, and professional demeanour in a difficult time. We would also like to thank Father Kieran Danfulani, for a dignified and meaningful funeral service, and for his kindness to our family. The funeral service was added to by the wonderful music provided by Martin McCabe and Breedge. We would like to thank those who volunteered of their time to dig the grave. We would like to thank the committee of Tullycorbet hall for making their facilities available, McEntee’s caterers who provided the food.

Our brother and uncle Tommy lived a full life, and we were very touched by the presence of all of those who came to celebrate it with us, and those who offered their sympathies and condolences, both in person and in the very many messages of sympathy delivered online, and by post in the weeks since his death. We are very grateful to you all.

We want to pay a special thanks to all of Tommy’s friends and neighbours – in the 84 years of his life, you were the central characters – friends, and supporters. To all those, down the years, from neighbours to agricultural contractors who were ready to lend a hand when he asked, thank you on his behalf.

The holy sacrifice of the mass will be offered for the intentions of all mentioned above.

Tommy’s absence leaves a hole in our lives, and in our hearts. We are the better for having known him, and our final thanks must be with him for the lasting positive impact he had on all of us who knew him.

Tommy’s Month’s Mind Mass will be celebrated on Sunday next, September 24th, at 9.30am in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Tullycorbett.