Memories of departed friends on days never to be forgotten

A Different View with Dave O’Connell

There are occasions in life where you know you should just shut up and listen; when you recognise that you’re lucky to find yourself in the company of great people who have no idea how great they actually are.

And at the end of that day, you’ll have a memory for life.

This photograph was taken at just such an occasion, although by other measures it was just a stolen afternoon in one of Galway’s best pubs.

As you look at it, that’s Róisín Duignan – doyenne of An Taibhdhearc, protector of the flame – sitting beside her brother, former RTÉ Political Correspondent and Government Press Secretary, Seán Duignan.

On my other side, and partly hidden, is Mike Burns, former RTÉ London Editor and Head of RTÉ Radio News, and bringing up that flank is Eoin Faherty, Galway native and for many years Chief Clerk in Dáil Éireann.

And each year for many years, Seán, Mike and Eoin made an annual pilgrimage to Galway, letting the train take the strain as they enjoyed a few pints, a large fish and chips in McDonagh’s and bought a few over-fresh loaves from Griffin’s Bakery, which never made it past the train journey back home.

Two weeks ago, Eoin rang me to tell me that Mike had died. Last week, Eoin’s cousin – and host of those afternoon gatherings – Cóilí Flaherty rang me to tell me that Eoin was dead.

Eoin had mentioned, almost in passing, when he’d called me the previous week that he’d ‘caught the virus’ but was on the mend. And we agreed that we would raise a glass to our departed friend, Mike, the next time himself and Diggy came to Galway.

Now we will raise one to Eoin as well.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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