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Joker James and his 'Full Monty'
16.07.10
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by Linda McGrory
JOKER James McEleney's version of 'The Full Monty'
was legendary, mourners at his funeral were told
yesterday.
The 23-year old was "a showman" and a singer who
loved the songs of Galway country favourite, Mike
Denver. He would have been well chuffed that Denver
and band members travelled yesterday to sing at his
funeral.
James' uncle, Philly Ivers, told the huge
congregation at his requiem mass in St Mary’s
Church, Clonmany yesterday: “He was a performer, a
showman, who loved to put a smile on people’s face.
“His stories, his singing or, as many of us have
experienced, his own version of the Full
Monty...that was our James."
His was the final funeral, following the deaths of
eight men in Sunday night's horror crash. It is a
week that will live long in the scarred memories of
the people of Inishowen. |
James lived just a
short distance from the accident scene - a winding
main road carved through a leafy rural glen at the
foot of two crown-shaped mountains known locally as
the King and Queen of Meentiaghs.
Chief mourners yesterday included his mother
Philomena and siblings Shane, Robert, Philip and
Kathleen. Prayers were also said for James' late
brother Daniel (Danji) who sadly died some years
ago.
As expected, it was the largest of all eight
funerals, given that all the relatives from the
previous seven could attend, while there were no
simultaneous services to divide the crowd as on
other days this week. |
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James, who worked for a
guttering contractor, was remembered yesterday as a
"hard worker" and a "home-bird".
"Despite trying to fly the nest to America, he was
back within two weeks to his mother. To his friends
he was a character, so full of life and a real
joker," said his uncle.
Mr Ivers thanked the gardai and all the emergency
services who attended the scene of the accident on
the night. He also paid tribute to the hospital
staff, the undertaker and the people of Inishowen.
"It makes us so proud to be part of such a loyal and
caring community," he said. He also offered
condolences to the seven other families and prayed
for the full recovery of the sole survivor, the
driver of the VW Passat on the night, Sean Kelly.
"We pray that Sean makes a full recovery and wish to
let him know that our door is always open for
support for both him and his family."
Gifts brought to the altar included a suede tool
belt containing hammer and pliers, a Mike Denver CD
and a family photograph. The photograph was taken at
the christening of his sister's twin daughters,
Caitlin and Serena, over a year ago. James was
godfather to one of the girls and was "very proud"
on the occasion. Other gifts included a model Ford
van bearing the inscription ‘James McEleney
Guttering’.
Clonmany parish priest, Fr Fintan Diggin said James
had only recently painted the outside of the house
and had "filled the shed with turf".
He said the 23-year old was a hard-working young
man, like his six friends and bachelor, Hughie Friel,
who also died in the horrific two-car smash.
“They were hard-working men, full of life, full of
joy. Strong members of their communities in their
own parishes, all of them,” he said.
There were heartbreaking scenes as Philomena,
surrounded by her grown-up children gathered behind
her son's remains for the short walk to Clonmany's
'new cemetery' where he was laid to rest.
Ashen-faced young men tried in vain to stifle their
sobs against the silence while the groundswell of
raw emotion spilled over at the conclusion of one of
the worst weeks of grief ever seen in an Irish
community.
The heart-sore people who live at the foot of the
King and Queen of Meentiaghs, will never be the same
again. |
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