Ray bids final farewell to his father
BROADCASTER Ray D’Arcy bade an emotional goodbye to his father as he carried his coffin out of St Brigid’s Church in Kildare Town yesterday afternoon.
Ray D’Arcy Sr is survived by nine children Joe, Jacqui, Ray, Hugh, Anne, Paul, Marianne, Claire, and Joan, his wife Mary and two sisters, Anne and Ruth.
The former soldier died on Thursday night at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin, surrounded by his family.
Fellow RTÉ broadcaster Ryan Tubridy, who lost his father in February 2013, attended the Mass to pay his respects and to support his colleague.
Ray D’Arcy Jr didn’t speak at the funeral, with the homily delivered by his elder brother. He spoke of his father’s time in the Defence Forces, serving in Sinai in Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus and the Congo. Mr D’Arcy was also a keen musician and a skilled drummer, with a pair of drumsticks being the second object presented in memory of Ray, who was in a number of bands in the 1960s. Finally, a Chelsea Football Club baseball cap was offered up, as Mr D’Arcy had been a passionate supporter of the London club. Mr D’Arcy was cremated at Newlands Cross.