Write a commentOn a windy freezing cold day the final journey of Lord Ballyedmond began as his remains were carried into Newry Cathedral by his son’s Edward and James followed by his wife Lady Mary, his daughter Caroline, the wider family circle, friends, employees and members of the political establishment from Ireland and the UK both past and present.
Yesterday Declan Small who also died in the helicopter crash which claimed four lives including the two pilots was laid to rest in Mayobridge.
Lord Ballyedmond was born Edward Haughey in Kilcurry in the 1940’s and went on to found local company Norbrook Laboratories which now employs over 1000 people in Newry and many more around the world. His Funeral was attended by First Minister Peter Robinson; Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness; Minister for Enterprise, Arlene Foster; David Forde, John McCallister, Pat Jennings, Mike Nesbitt, Lord Kilcluney, Bertie Ahern, David Trimble, Ken Maginnis, Conor Murphy as well as many local Councillors.
Lord Ballyedmonds daughter Caroline and son James read the readings with Prayers of the Faithful read by Norbrook employees Martin Murdock, Lillian Cromie, Madeline Irwin, Derek Rodgers, Martin Logan, Ciara Cunningham, Gervase McGinnity, Edel Sheeran and Crawford Jones (Lord Ballyedmond’s best man at his marriage)
His Funeral Mass was presided over by Diocese Administrator, Canon Francis Brown who detailed his life to the packed cathedral “Edward Enda Haughey was born in Kilcurry, Co. Louth on the 5th January 1944 to Edward and Rose Ellen Haughey. He was baptised in Kilcurry Church. Edward did not have an easy childhood, as his father died tragically before he was born. It is thought that this may have had a motivating effect on his ambition to be successful. He always spoke fondly of his mother and encouraged others to cherish the time available with their parents.
“He was educated in the Christian Brothers’ School, (CBS) Dundalk. He rarely referred to his education or his time at the CBS in Dundalk which might indicate that he may have drifted through this period of his life and was still searching for his vocation or path in life. He was a self taught, hard working, determined individual who had a thirst for knowledge. After leaving the Christian Brothers’ School in Dundalk he emigrated to New York where he became a salesman with a pharmaceutical company, working his way up to regional managing director. His time in the United States (US) allowed him to see an opportunity in the animal health industry in the UK and Europe which was lagging behind the US in terms of how the industry was evolving and developing.
“In the late 1960s, Edward returned to Ireland and set up Norbrook Laboratories, bringing employment to many people in the city of Newry and the surrounding area. Edward started as a sole trader operating on a very small scale and grew the business to its present scale. As Chairman and Managing Director of Norbrook Laboratories Ltd. and Norbrook Holdings he employed approximately 3,000 people globally with 2,000 staff based in Newry City, many of them graduates and highly qualified PhD scientists. Today the company is one of largest exporters in the North of Ireland.
“Edward made many significant donations over the years to educational establishments and charitable organisations. Most of these were never published and many charities and schools in the locality benefitted. He had a keen interest in the development of the science subjects in all educational establishments.
Continuing he added “Edward and Mary have three children, Caroline, Edward and James. Both parents are immensely proud of their achievements and love them dearly, a love that is mutual. Sadly, on the evening of the 13th March Mary lost a loving husband and Caroline, Edward and James are mourning the loss of a loving father who was taken from them very suddenly. This is indeed very painful for them, a pain that only they as individuals fully appreciate.
“Family was very important for Edward. He valued the importance of education and encouraged each sibling to pursue their post primary and third level education. Today’s deceased was someone who had during his life a great influence on so many people both family and friends. He was also someone who had a huge love of nature, flowers and trees, very much in touch with nature.”
Canon Brown also added “Our experience of Edward’s death reminds us that death is a moment we will all face. For all of us life is a preparation for death and each day is important. When someone close to us dies it enables us to become that little bit more reflective. It deepens our focus about what is real and what is important.”
He continued “Any death in our community saddens us. We feel especially for the relatives and the friends. Death is always a shock; even if we know that a person is not well. At a time such as this, we have many words and few words: many words to say what is unimportant and few words to say the real, caring things to each other.
“Lord Ballyedmond’s death is painful for many people. Many people in Newry, and far beyond are suffering a huge loss. They are identifying, in the best way they can, with the pain and tremendous loss suffered by his wife Mary, his daughter Caroline, his sons Edward and James, the Haughey family and Edward’s many friends.”
The Canon concluded “On behalf of Bishop McAreavey, the Priests of the Parish, on behalf of everyone here and on my own behalf, I extend our sincere sympathy to Edward’s wife Lady Mary Ballyedmond, his daughter Caroline, sons Edward and James, son in law Mark, granddaughters Alexandra, Victoria and Cosima, and the entire family circle.
“You, the Haughey family, will be in our thoughts and prayers in the days and weeks ahead. Go nDéana Dia Trócaire ar a anam.”
Mayobridge in Mourning
At Declan Smalls funeral on Sunday Fr Charlie Byrne who celebrated the Mass in an equally packed St Patrick’s, Mayobridge said “Declan’s Miraculous Medal that he wore, the Rosary Beads that he carried with him, and the statue of Saint Joseph the Worker that he placed in the house which he was building, capture elements of a faith instilled in him by his parents Margaret and Joe. It is part of Declan’s life that brings comfort to us now”
He added “The news of Declan’s death on Thursday evening brought devastating shock to the Small family, his family circle, friends and the local community here in Mayobridge. An overwhelming sense of compassion was and is felt for his family, his mother Margaret his brothers Micheal, Shane and Anrai, his girlfriend Bernie and many friends. Words are woefully inadequate to express the pain and sorrow in our hearts that we have for the family.
“We all, in a sense, felt numb and wondered why this should happen to Declan and to such a good family? Our thoughts and prayers go out to all whose hearts are broken. This great gift of life we have received from God our creator is a treasure. It is precious but it is fragile. We all hope that we ourselves and our loved ones live to old age but this does not always happen. When death comes to someone young and under tragic circumstances as Declan’s has, it robs us of not only what we possess but of our hopes and dreams, so many plans, so many expectations can be no more. No mother expects to bury her child no matter what the age.”
Detailing Declan’s life Fr Byrne said “Declan was well known for his love of family, love of life and steadfast faith, the eldest of Joe and Margaret Small’s family of four. On leaving school he trained as a joiner with Small Brothers and was with them for about six years. He then took a job with his uncle Joe. After about seven years with Joe he went to work for Lord Ballyedmond at Norbrook and Ballyedmond Castle. In time he became foreman and his work often took him over seas. Lately he was working in Gillingham near Norfolk. Declan was a very skilled craftsman and always took great pride and joy in his work. He was highly respected and very well thought of by all who worked with him and often was fondly referred to as Lord Ballyedmond’s right hand man.
“Declan’s father Joe was in failing health for many years with multiple sclerosis, and from a very young age Declan was a great support to his mother in looking after his father who died seven years ago this May. Declan was very caring towards his mother as she was to him. When working away from home he kept in touch with her regularly by phone and had called her twice on the Thursday he died. He often had an early start on a Monday morning leaving home at 4:00am to get to the airport and his mother would be up to see him off. Declan loved sport and played Gaelic football with Mayobridge until the age of sixteen and continued to be an active supporter. Declan was a member of Mayobridge golf club and also of a local darts team. He was much loved by his many friends and was renowned for his quick wit, always game for a laugh. This past few years Declan has been building a new house for himself beside the family home. He was looking forward to soon having it completed and had found happiness with his girlfriend Bernie.”
Fr Byrne concluded “Declan’s life has been cut short. He has died too suddenly, too soon, but it is a tragedy that has allowed us to see the remarkable impact which Declan has made on those in his life. This was evident in the number of people young and old who lined the road in a candle-lit guard of honour for his homecoming on Friday night. So today we give thanks for Declan’s life, and we pray that the Lord will be a strength and comfort to his mother Margaret, his brothers Micheal, Shane and Anrai, his sister-in-law Suzanne, his girlfriend Bernie, all the family circle and Declan’s many good friends and colleagues.
“We remember in our prayer too Lord Ballyedmond’s family and the families of the two pilots Carl Dickerson and Lee Hoyle. May the Lord be a strength and comfort to them all. We pray now that Declan is in the company of God, the giver of life, along with his father Joe and all who have gone before him. May Declan rest in peace.”
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