Seamus is mourned by Sligo
THE DEATH OF FEARLESS EDITOR, VISIONARY AND LOVING FAMILY MAN SEAMUS FINN HAS LEFT A VOID IN OUR HEARTS
SLIGO is a better place because of the work of fearless campaigning former editor of The Sligo Champion, Seamus Finn, who was laid to rest last week.
Lead celebrant at his funeral in St Joseph’s Church, Fr Hugh McGonagle told mourners Seamus was a “pillar of our community” and it was so fitting that the final person to be made a Freeman of Sligo before the Borough lost its status was Seamus Finn.
“I told him to his face that I felt Seamus did for Sligo what Gay Byrne did for Ireland, and that was, he opened up our opinions,” he said in his homily last Tuesday.
“He formed opinions and opened up our minds to see the bigger picture. He had that great understanding, he understood the common man.
“He was not a respecter of peerages. The ordinary man was his fellow traveller on the road of life. He had a great passion for social justice. He spent all his life in Sligo which he loved dearly. He was also driven by a love of place and a deep sense of compassion.
“When a tragedy occurred in Sligo, The Sligo Champion became the rallying place for fundraising campaigns. Seamus put the full weight of The ‘Champion behind a campaign for better services - for a new bridge or the Sports Centre in Cleveragh,” said Fr McGonagle.
“Many of us feel his loss keenly because of his unique gifts and his role in our community throughout the years. His presence in our lives was significant and enduring. Seamus had a faith in the future. A faith that resided in a heart that was honest and without cynicism, caring and gentle. He was articulate and loved to talk - he liked nothing more than a good debate.
“By nature he had a remarkable gift for rational analysis and this shone through, in his editing of The Sligo Champion
Fr McGonagle said this is the real legacy of Seamus, “the love of learning and the desire for the truth. The desire for justice and for the wellbeing of all humanity.”
“May we continue to learn from him and carry on the legacy of the love of truthfulness and a life well lived.
“He was a man of unquestionable honour and integrity and that’s saying something of real value about a man who has influenced thousands of lives.
There is a saying that “it’s not what happens to you that matters, it’s what you do about it that really makes a difference”.
“What Seamus did was make a huge difference to the quality of life of people who read the newspaper and the comm unity that he lived in.
“All of us like to think that in some way during our lives we can make some contribution to the world around us - Seamus made that mark.
“Because of his life and the wya he lived, because of his words and his actions he will continue to serve his community in the generations to come,” said Fr McGonagle.
“His death leaves a void in his family, in our church here in St Joseph’s and indeed in our community. It is truly the end of an era,” he said.
Seamus’ grandson Ilan brought up his beloved camera as an offertory gift, to showcase his love of photography.
Family friend Fionnuala Burke brought up an old copy of The Sligo Champion to mark his illustrious career as Editor from 1972-2009.
Mourners included the Mayor of Sligo Municipal District Cllr Hubert Keaney, Councillors Declan Bree and Marie Casserly, members of the wider business community, former Cllr Peter Henry, former Senator Imelda Henry and former TD Gerry Reynolds.
His son Kevin Finn gave a moving eulogy which he opened by saying “Sligo has lost one of its sons.Dad was a great many things in Sligo. A campaigners, a fundraiser, a supporter, a journalist, a writer, a photographer, a friend.
“He truly loved Sligo. Celebrating it and recording it through words, images and actions. he was a relentless student, a fearless risk-taker and in many ways, a visionary,” he told the congregation.
“He was all of this and more. But to us, he was our Dad. And for us, Dad was bigger and more significant than all of his other achievements in life.
“He taught my brother and I the importance of knowledge, education and having a curious mind. Right to the end he was interested in the news and like Mum, he encouraged us to explore the world and to always try to do right by others.
“His passing is heartbreaking but his struggle is over. The last Freeman of Sligo is finally free,” he said.
Past and present journalists from The Sligo Champion, formed a Guard of Honour outside the church as the hearse left for Sligo Cemetery.