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Mourners at the funeral of broadcaster and author Manchán Magan heard he was a “Gael ina chroí, a gatherer of light from the living word”.
The broadcaster and documentary maker passed away last Thursday at the age of 55 after a brave battle with cancer. Chief mourners at his funeral in the chapel in Gonzaga College, his former school in Dublin, yesterday morning were his wife Aisling, his mother Cróine, his brothers Rioch and Ruán, sister Liadain, extended family, friends and spirit guides.
A wide group of musicians, including Glen Hansard, Liam ó Maonlaí, Lisa O’Neill and Colm Mac Con Iomaire played at the service while Niall Breslin and JJ ó Dochartaigh of Kneecap were also in attendance.
Fr Tom Casey said if he had 32 words for welcome, he would have used them to the congregation.
He said Mr Magan was “frail, but still full of life” during his final visit to him last week.
Fr Casey said in his book 32 Words For Field, Manchán wrote that “different languages dance differently in the world”.
“And how he danced them, Irish, English, French, they were all music to him, because he knew that they weren’t just instruments for talking, but a path for walking through the world,” said Fr Casey.
Mr Magan was a “Gael ina chroí, a gatherer of light from the living word,” he said.
“A man of wonder, fear lán d’iontas,” Fr Casey said, adding that “to live astonished – this was his gift to us”. His brother Ruán said “instead of being gone, Manchán is everywhere”.
Ruán said Manchán married Aisling Rogerson in St James’s Hospital in recent weeks and the hospital porters decorated a bridal suite for them.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik attended and President Michael D Higgins was represented by his Aide-de-Camp Commandant Deirdre Newell.
A celebration of land and spirit will take place at Hill of Uisneach, Co Westmeath, on November 1.
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