Nesbitt thanks sisters at funeral
ACTOR James Nesbitt has paid an emotional tribute to his sisters for looking after their father until his death.
James Nesbitt Snr died last Friday, at 91. He was the former headmaster of a primary school in Lisnamurrican, near Broughshane in Co. Antrim.
Prayers and tributes were said outside the family home in Castlerock, near Coleraine, in Co. Derry before his interment at Downhill Burying Ground yesterday.
Nesbitt described his father as a ‘great listener’ and said that shortly before his death he had been writing a history of his life.
‘You can imagine how long that took,’ he told mourners.
‘He was also planning for his funeral and he wrote: “I would like to dedicate this reading to all those paid or unpaid, family or strangers, who have cared for me in my years of affliction. I suppose I am a rather elderly, widowed, orphan”.
‘This reading, to my mind, sums up Dad. Dad bled love.’
The actor added: ‘I want to thank all who have been in Dad’s life – his beloved wife and my mother May, and his sisters, his daughters and nieces and his friends, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all those who he adored and loved.
‘Dad was so proud of Margaret, Kathryn and Andrea. They cared for him and loved him, he adored them and was so proud.
‘It wasn’t always easy, and Kathryn probably saw that more than most as she dedicated so much of the last year of his life looking after him.’
He added: ‘There’s no hierarchy of grief. Margaret, Kathryn and Andrea will miss Dad terribly and they will miss him because they loved him and they loved him because he loved them.’
Nesbitt, 55, made his acting breakthrough in hit TV series Cold Feet, going on to star in The Hobbit.
Mr Nesbitt Sr was a life-long supporter of Coleraine FC and manager Oran Kearney and player Eoin Bradley were among those who attended his funeral.
A song by Harry Connick Jr was played as the cortège passed mourners lining the route to the burial site.