The Mayo News

Six Royal Marines get ready to lay their colleague, Westport’s Robert McKibben, to rest in Aughavale Cemetery on Monday. Huge crowds attended the funeral of the 32-year-old on both Sunday and Monday in Westport. Pic: Keith Heneghan/Phocus Westport falls silent as Robert McKibben is laid to rest


Marine colleague recalls ‘larger-than-life character’ whose ‘can-do attitude helped him overcome every test’

Neill O’Neill

THE town of Westport came to a standstill yesterday (Monday), as one of its well-known and much-loved sons was laid to rest. Hundreds of people lined the streets shortly after 2pm as the funeral cortege of Marine Robert McKibben, flanked by his colleagues from the Royal Marines, mournfully made its way towards Aughavale Cemetary – stopping first of all at his family home, less than one kilometre from the graveyard.
Marine McKibben, or Robbie as he was known locally, was killed in action in Afghanistan on Wednesday, November 12, alongside fellow Marine Neil Dunstan. Both men were 32 years old.
Robbie’s body was flown into Ireland West Airport Knock and transferred to his family home at Carnalurgan on Saturday afternoon, where following a wake he was brought to St Mary’s Church in Westport at 7pm on Sunday evening. Despite the bitter cold, huge crowds lined the streets of the town and flowed in behind the hearse, before six uniformed Marines carried his coffin – draped in a Royal Marines flag and with his cap and belt atop – into the church.
With barely room to stand in the church, Fr Denis Carney welcomed the congregation, and, quoting from scripture, told them that ‘no greater love can anyone give than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’. “Robbie worked for the greater good of humankind and the greatest good of all – peace,” he said, adding: “He paid the ultimate price for this and has made the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good of the entire world.”
During Robbie’s Funeral Mass on Monday the church was again packed to capacity as his family, friends and rank and file colleagues from the Marines, along with members of the Irish armed forces, listened to his uncle, Fr Terry O’Malley, tell the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
“In this story two young people are trying to accommodate the sudden and shocking death of their beloved lord. We too are in a similar position with the tragic death of Robbie. Why, oh why, is a question that goes through so many of our hearts and minds,” he said.
“We are here this day to recognise and honour the life and sacrifice of Marine Robert McKibben and his family greatly appreciate your presence, your prayer and your comradeship,” he added. “Marine Robert McKibben, we salute your life, your service and your sacrifice. We hear reports that you were deemed worthy to enter an even more elite section of your service. We, all your comrades in faith, rejoice that you are for eternity in the service of the almighty,” he concluded.
A native of Westport now based in San Francisco, Fr O’Malley was joined in celebrating the Mass by his brother Fr Brendan O’Malley, Fr Denis Carney, Chaplain to the Royal Marines Fr Michael Sharkey, and also by Fr Paddy Gill, Fr Willie Spicer Fr Vincent Kelly and Church of England Minister, Reverend Albert Hempenstal – a former Chaplain to the Royal Marines.
Before the final prayers, Warrant Officer Thomas Roberts of the Royal Marines delivered – to applause – a eulogy on Robbie based on his time in the Marines, on behalf of his many friends in the Marines.
“Marine Robert McKibben was a larger-than-life character, with an easy smile and quick wit,” he said. “He was an immensely capable man, yet his humility made him an example and inspiration to all he served with. A true Commando; tough, unassuming and hugely convivial, he viewed life as a glass half-full and had an indomitable sense of humour in the face of any adversity. Regardless of the task or conditions his can-do attitude helped him overcome every test he encountered. Marine McKibben was a key personality within our tight-knit unit of professional specialists; he was held dear by his colleagues and leaves a great void with his passing.”
He added that Robbe was a large, friendly and robust Irishman who always had a smile on his face. “He proved time and time again that he was a strong field soldier under the most demanding of conditions and was passionate about his job. Throughout the many hardships presented to him during his career in the Royal Marines he maintained an enviable relaxed attitude to life and conducted himself with great humility. His enthusiasm to achieve the best that he could was infectious and he could always be relied upon to get any job done. Marine McKibben was one of life’s characters who touched many of us in a genuine and understated way.”
A huge crowd then followed the cortege through Westport and assembled on the hillside of Aughavale Cemetery, where amid scenes of immense grief, and with the sun shining brilliantly through dark clouds which reflected the mood of all present, six Royal Marines lowered Robbie’s coffin to his place of eternal rest, as the lamentful sound of a lone uniformed bugler sounding the last post filled the air.
Robert McKibben is survived by his mother Gráinne, father Tony, sisters Carmel, Maggie and Rachal, brother Raymond, girlfriend Nicola, extended family and a wide circle of friends in Ireland and overseas.

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