A great and noble man with an innate sense of fairness
HUSBAND, father, devout Christian, newsman; the cornerstones of Seamus Mcconville’s life were outlined in a funeral Mass that was moving and dignified, befitting the man.
One of the great newspaper men of the 20th Century in Kerry through his time as editor of The Kerryman, Seamus was laid to rest at Rathass Cemetery following a requiem Mass at St John’s Church on Tuesday morning.
All came to pay their respects to his family: wife Dolores, children Denise, Sean, Fiona and Marissa, grandchildren Laurie, Rachel, Grace, Seamus and Freya, sister Eileen, brother Kevin, relatives and close friends.
Seamus’s character was celebrated in a moving homily by his close friend Monsignor Dan O’riordan who described the Navanborn journalist as a ‘special gift from God’ to his wife Dolores through their 52-year marriage, and their family.
A photograph of their 50th wedding anniversary from two years ago, a copy of The Kerryman and his rosary beads were brought up as symbols by their grandchildren.
“He was a gift from God also, to us, his friends and his colleagues and, in my case, for almost 40 years. He was a man of stature in every aspect of his being; a profoundly Christian man who saw the good in everyone and affirmed it in his warmheartedness and sincerity,” Msgr O’riordan recalled.
Two Irish words were fitting above all other — ‘uasal’ (noble) and ‘dílis’ (faithful). Through his career he helped build up the community and county, just as he did through his work outside of The Kerryman with societies as diverse as the Lion’s Club, the Festival of Kerry, St Joseph’s Young Priests Society and the informal ‘Cornerboys’, a group of friends who met regularly in the Abbeygate to discuss the affairs of the county and nation.
“It’s 10 years ago since he called over to me in the Pastoral Centre to say he had been diagnosed with leukemia that day and, typical of the man, his focus was not so much on himself but on his family... The last ten years brought many gifts and blessings despite the illness.
“Seamus, you left us so many memories to cherish: Your pride of place in Tralee and south Kerry especially, your love of family, your unique voice, words of encouragement, warm handshake, friendly disposition and deep faith... In one of the calendars today I saw it written: ‘It is chance that makes brothers, it is hearts that make friends’. Isn’t it true? It is certainly true of Seamus.”
Speaking to The Kerryman at their Ballyard home on Monday, Dolores thanked all the medical staff who cared for her husband through his long illness.
“The care he got was incredible and we are so thankful for it, from Dr Mary Cahill and her team in CUH, our GPS Dr Tony Mccarthy and Dr Ken Holmes and the marvellous care of Dr Tom O’brien and the staff at the Bons Secours. Words just couldn’t describe what they did for him, he was blessed,” she said.