Write a commentThe parishioners of Ballymore and Mullaghbrack came out in force today, to give a fond farewell to one of their own.
Seamus Mallon had lived all his life in the parish so it was fitting that his last resting place was in his home church of St James' Mullaghbrack, beside his beloved wife Gertrude.
Shortly after eleven his funeral procession left his home in Markethill escorted by police motorcycles, crossing the busy Newry Armagh Road enroute to St James Church. The small chapel was never going to take everyone so the adjoining hall as well as a marquee were called into service. A guard of honour from O'Donnabhain Rosa GAC, Mullaghbrack and the Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School, Newry awaited the cortege.
Family, friends, neighbours and parishioners were joined by a veritable who's who of political life throughout the island. The SDLP family of course past and present led by party leader Colum Eastwood, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, former Taoisigh Enda Kenny and Bertie Aherne, First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Secretary of State Julian Smith, former First Minister David Trimble and many many more.
Archbishop Martin was Chief Concelebrant at the Requiem Mass with Parish Priest Fr Michael Woods, Fr Corrigan and Cardinal Brady also in attendance.
Personal wish
During the welcome Fr Woods speaking of Seamus said "It was his personal wish that his funeral should be here, in the Church in which so many sacred moments in his life and that of his family were marked and celebrated including his own baptism over 83 years ago.
"Seamus Mallon was a man of deep faith and it is our privilege to host the final liturgical and sacred moment of his long, full and rich life here in this place of profound importance."
Gifts were presented representing his life: His autobiography 'A shared home place', his Maiden Speech in the House of Commons, a photograph with Pope John Paul II, a pot of roses, A book for Poppy, a fishing reel and golf balls from Rosapenna, all reminded those in attendance of his many interests.
In his homily Archbishop Martin quoted one of Seamus Heaney's poems "I have my existence, I was there, me in place and the place in me" adding "I expect that Seamus Mallon felt the same way about Mullaghbrack and Markethill ... me in place and the place in me, but like the poets Heaney, Kavanagh and McGahern, his sense of place was never tribal or parochial in any narrow sense. For him place was always about openness, welcome and belonging and he wrote lyrically about his home place"
Help put things right
Quoting from Seamus' recent autobiography Archbishop Martin said "Every day of the week I am fortunate to be within touching distance of places and moments that have helped to shape our country's history and indeed have helped to shape me, both as a person and as a politician. Each of my kitchen windows looks at the symbols of four centuries of divided history, the fears, the prejudices, the ethnic hatred, the lack of understanding"
The Archbishop added "But Seamus Mallon was determined to help put these things right, to make a real difference and to leave the world a better place than it was when he entered it and was baptised in this parish back in 1936.
"People sometimes speak of the noble vocation of politics and Seamus Mallon was a shining example of someone who gives their life in a vocation of service."
Echoing Seamus' life Friend Dáithi Ó Ceallaigh, Former Irish Ambassador to UK in his prayer of the faithful said "We pray for all who share this island, that they may live in the spirit of Seamus' life and work: as good and tolerant neighbours, each proud of their identity while being sensitive to the identity of others, and all striving to live in peace together."
Never had a better friend
Lifelong friend Frank Feely met Seamus over 50 years ago when he was teaching in St Colman's and Seamus was in St Joseph's and as he says "from that day on we were wonderful friends, we did everything together really, we joined the SDLP, the Civil Rights, we were in Stormont together for 25 years. I never had a better friend and I'm very sorry to lose him and I'll miss him terribly.
"He was a very rounded figure he would play golf, he would go fishing, he would go for a drink and he was very generous"
Frank added "Above all he was a wonderful politician, he was one of the very few men who was capable of saying no if he considered it wasn't the right proposition, and that didn't matter who was present.
"There would never have been a Good Friday Agreement or a new Police Service except for Seamus Mallon"
Speaking of his loss Frank concluded "I will miss the social side of him. Every week since he retired and I retired we'd go for a lunch a couple of times a week
"In the summertime in the evening we'd go for a Chinese to The Jade in Dundalk. We had great conversations, great reminiscences about all the talks we were at over the years, all the fun we had together."
A genuine empathy with the Unionist community
Newry and Armagh MLA Justin Mc Nulty added
"Séamus was a proud Irishman whose contribution to the Peace Process and the development of the Ireland we know is beyond measure.
"Séamus Mallon was a brave man. He met the challenges of a 40 year political maelstrom with a quiet unfaltering determination and fearlessness. With an unyielding integrity Séamus was truthful and trustworthy and that probity was respected whether in Whitecoss, Westminster or the Whitehouse.
"As a GAA man Séamus Mallon was a talented midfielder who then stepped into the game of his life and played centre field alongside the great John Hume. The two of them colossuses of the Peace Process who held fast and true to the central tenet of their shared political credos, a peaceful Ireland achieved through agreement.
"Séamus Mallon understood and had a genuine empathy with the Unionist community who were his lifelong neighbours.
"From my boyhood days I have known and revered Séamus Mallon. I admired his way with words from his witty banter in his Mill Street office in Newry to his compelling maiden speech in Westminster. I marveled at his strength and powerful words and I admired what he stood for. I knew him to be a great Gael and passionate Armagh man. One of my fondest memories is shaking his hand on the steps of the Hogan Stand in Croke Park when Kieran McGeeney lifted the Sam Maguire in September 2002. Séamus was glowing with pride.
"It is Séamus who encouraged me to take up the challenge of peaceful politics on the pathway towards an Ireland that is a shared homeplace for us all."
