SOME people leave an indelible mark on the world as they pass through life. Conor Porter was such a man.

When news of his death became known last week, there was a palpable sense of loss and sadness in the Raphoe community and beyond at the loss of a man who had given so much to so many – and who always did that with a sense of purpose and pride.

No one will ever sum up his life and influence better than his son Conor, who in a stirring eulogy at his funeral in St Eunan’s Chapel in Raphoe last week, told the packed congregation how Conor was a man who took great pride in his work, whatever that work happened to be.

He approached each task with diligence and care. He saw value in doing things well, not for recognition, but because he believed that effort and integrity mattered – the details mattered.

His family, those he worked with on multiple committees or he played with or taught music to, knew that only too well. Conor always taught people to work hard, take pride in what they do – to strive for excellence, but also to accept mistakes as part of the journey.

He was a devoted family man who had been a loving husband for over 40 years to his late wife Mary who passed away almost ten years ago. His family – son Conor and his wife Jessica, daughters Diane and her husband Darryl and Sarah Jane and her husband Andrew – as well as his grandchildren Anna, Niall, Ryan, Fionn, Oisin, Conor and Ciaran – were his pride and joy.

And he was a loving brother to his sisters Margaret, Mary, Catherine, Patricia, Bernie, Carmel, Fionnuala and Una and his brothers Joseph, Raymond, John Michael and Liam.

But Conor was much more than just a family man. He was a community stalwart, a man who led by example in everything he did, touching countless lives in the community and that was recalled time and again in hundreds of stories over the days of his wake and funeral.

He believed in helping others without expecting anything in return and in doing so created a legacy for himself that most of us could ever hope to dream of.

Conor’s pride in his community shone through his active participation. He was instrumental in Raphoe Tidy Towns, Raphoe Community in Action, Raphoe Historical Project, Raphoe Gala Weekend and so many others. He loved Raphoe and he was so proud to live there.

A man of integrity, he was also a man of great faith. Even if God’s plan sometimes did not seem to make sense or was painful, nevertheless his faith did not waver even in the worst times, always believing that there was something more wonderful waiting for him.

But Conor will be remembered most of all for the music – from his time as a drummer in St Eunan’s Pipe Band, the shows with Raphoe Showstoppers, his days as an entertainer in bars across the county and his participation in the choirs in St Eunan’s.

He helped start the Thursday night session in Shorty’s Bar with his great friend Christy Murray, a session that as he used to say himself “is on every week with a Thursday in it,” and one that just started as two friends with a guitar and a tin whistle.

He taught multiple local marching bands, his crowning achievement was helping create the Raphoe marching band, who again with great friends such as Christy Murray and Brian Gallagher, had years of success, culminating in them becoming All Ireland Champions.

He enjoyed similar successes and formed great friendships too with the Ramelton Town Band, and it was testament to the influence Conor had on so many lives that members of both Ramelton Town Band and St Eunan’s Youth Band joined in a guard of honour as he was brought to the chapel.

Bobby McNulty, Conor’s great friend from his times with St Eunan’s Pipe Band led to the cortege playing ‘Going Home’ while friends, neighbours, staff from local businesses including Conor’s former colleagues at Raphoe Hardware, many friends from his days in the pipe band and from the weekly music session, and a huge contingent from Raphoe Town Football Club – all stood in silence along the route to pay their respects.

Even their silence sang a song, but then again, how could it not?

After all, Conor did not just hear notes – he felt stories, emotions and connections in every chord and word.

He would have loved the choir who sang at his funeral Mass and would have taken great delight in hearing the entire congregation singing along to ‘Will you Go Lassie Go’ as he was brought to his rest.

Because music was not just what Conor played, it is who he was.

And there is no doubt that Conor Porter will continue to live on in the special memories of so many, every time the music plays…

Rip Conor.