THE funeral of Bernard ‘Barney’ Gibbons took place yesterday afternoon, as family and friends gathered to honour a life marked by humour, hard work and deep roots in his native Woodlands.
The Requiem Mass was celebrated by Rev Dominic Thoomkuzhyin the Church of the Irish Martyrs on Sunday.
Barney’s daughter Emer delivered a moving eulogy, sharing cherished memories and celebrated her father’s life with the large crowd gathered.
In his lifetime Barney inspired a wealth of stories, and Emer had gathered many anecdotes of his quick wit and humour from those closest to him in the days following his peaceful passing.
“The crackers that I heard are a lot more suitable for a barstool chat,” she laughed.
The congregation joined in laughter as Emer recalled the sharp humour her father was known for – the kind, she said, that required a thick skin to fully appreciate.
She spoke of the love her father had for his native Woodlands, where he was born in 1948, at a time when there were just two houses in the area: the Gibbons and the Crossans.
“There wasn’t a field, a ditch or a part of the hill he didn’t know like the back of his hand,” she said.
“His sister Ann told me ‘Barney was a man of the land, with a knowledge of it that wasn’t taught, it was just in him’.”
Those gathered also heard of his passion for farming, his work ethic and his eagerness to learn.
Emer reflected on his more recent years working as a “trucker”, the friendships he formed along the way and the support those friends gave him in times of need. She paid special tribute to his dear friend Robert.
Emer spoke about her father’s longstanding love for their mother Marie, who shared close to 60 years together.
“Dad had three great loves in his life, one was tractors, the second was the lorries, and the third was a little lady from Ballybofey called Mary Quinn (Marie Gibbons).”
She also spoke about the large family they grew together and the quiet pride of his children and grandchildren.
The Funeral Mass was followed by interment in Conwal cemetery.
Barney was predeceased by his parents Neil and Anna and son-in-law Richard.
He is deeply regretted and sadly missed by his wife, Marie, daughters, AnnaMarie, Edel, Martina (Gerry), Emer (Emmet) and Leah, sons, Brian (Teresa) and Damien (Michelle).
Fondly remembered by his brothers and sisters, 14 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, extended family, good neighbours and many friends.