Community ‘back West’ bids farewell to Mike Farragher

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – The community ‘back West’ was out in force last Friday to bid farewell to Mike Farragher – a man described at his funeral Mass as ‘someone who did many good turns, a pillar of this community’.

Mike, of Farragher’s Shop on Sea Road, was laid to rest after his funeral at St Ignatius’ Church, Sea Road on Friday morning where celebrant Fr Charlie Davy said his family and friends had lost a very special man.

“He was behind the counter every day for years, save for Christmas, serving us all. The sick and the housebound knew his generosity, as did the Poor Clare Nuns.

“His shop was so much more than a shop – it was a place of chat and banter,” Fr Charlie told the congregation at the Jes.

“He came every evening to this church to say his night prayers and other times with his grandchild to light a candle. He had a spot down there at the last bench for Saturday evening mass,” he said. “We thank God for a truly good and generous man who enriched our lives.”

Crowds lined the streets from early morning to pay their respects to Mike, who died suddenly on July 31.

In a eulogy, Mike’s daughter Melissa and son Trevor thanked the community back West, as well as those in his native Annaghdown, for their support in the days since his death.

Speaking of their loss, Melissa described her father’s pride in his native Muckrush, Annaghdown – ‘the holy ground’.

“His generosity knew no bounds and he never turned anyone away,” said Melissa.

“Dad loved the GAA. He enjoyed the banter – the build-up before the match, the half-time analysis and finally, the post-match analysis which went on for at least a week.

“And, so, to the famous Sunday club down in Dad’s shop where the tea was flowing and the craic was had, and everyone came away joyous, unless of course Mayo won,” she said.
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