Corragaun, Newport
As already briefly reported in The Mayo News the death took place on Saturday morning, March 8, following a short illness borne with courage, grace and dignity of Liam Burke, Corragaun, Newport, a much-loved and highly respected figure in the community.
He passed away in the loving care of his wife and family and his death caused shock and sadness in equal measure among his legion of friends and admirers. The special place that Liam had in the hearts of people was reflected in the huge numbers of people who queued for hours on Sunday evening, March 9, to sympathise and show solidarity with his grieving family. Rarely, if ever, has St. Patrick’s Church, Newport been so packed to capacity as it was for Liam’s concelebrated Requiem Mass, another touching tribute to one of nature’s gentlemen.
Liam, who was born in 1958, was son of the late Thomas and Phyllis (nee Leneghan) Burke from Rossanrubble, Newport, a much-loved couple who worked their small holding to raise their family and had a special place in the affections of the local community. Thomas, a native of Ross, Kilmeena, was also an employee of Mayo County Council. Liam’s Dad passed away at a very young age, which left Mrs. Burke with four young children under the age of ten to rear in very difficult times in the early 1960’s.
Liam attended Newport National School and obtained his second level education from the Christian Brothers School, now Rice College, in Westport. He joined the P&T (Eircom) in 1976 as a technician and was truly dedicated to his work for the following 37 years along with colleagues and friends from all parts of the country, until his retirement in December 2013.
Liam played football at underage level with his native club Burrishoole and followed the fortunes of Burrishoole and the Mayo team intently, rarely missing an encounter where either was involved. He enjoyed the banter and discussion before and after those encounters.
While his love of Gaelic football never waned, his abiding sporting passion was handball, a code of which he himself was no mean exponent. Each week, over many years, he coached juvenile handballers and regularly travelled to tournaments all over the country to allow them to show their skills. He, along with Patricia, Ciaran and Maria, attended world handball championships in places as far apart as Kilkenny (2003), Edmonton in Canada (2006) and Portland, Oregon (2009). He and Ciaran also played in the world handball championships in Citywest, Dublin, in 2012, his doubles partner on that occasion being Michael Heraty of Aughagower Handball Club. The posts he held included chairmanship of the Connaught Juvenile Handball Club.
His own achievements as a coach were virtually without equal. He was awarded Connaught Coach of the Year in 2009 and was presented with his plaque at Croke Park. In 2008 and 2009 he won two All-Ireland gold medals in his category and also claimed silver medals at other times. But the annual McGee handball tournament in his native Newport every August bank holiday weekend was the highlight of Liam’s year when handballers from the four corners of Ireland and further afield would converge on Newport to battle it out, and Liam along with his fellow members of Newport Handball Club would spend weeks and months in preparation for the event. Further accolades were to follow for Liam in subsequent years. Liam also coached underage football for years with his friend John O’Sullivan and always took great delight in the achievements of his young charges.
Community was hugely important to Liam and he was very proud of his membership of the first Parish Pastoral Council in Newport, leading the Corpus Christi procession in that role in 2001. The setting up of Community Games also claimed much of his voluntary time and, under his tutelage, Burrishoole handballers claimed All-Ireland gold medals at the national Community Games.
He was the quintessential good neighbour and whenever called upon at all hours of the day and night Liam was there to help out in whatever way he could. ‘No’ was never a word in Liam’s vocabulary when it came to giving assistance to others.
Liam will be very sadly missed by his heartbroken wife Patricia (nee Cawley, Fr. Angelus Park, Westport), son Ciarán, daughter Maria, brother Peter (Rossanrubble), sisters Mary Hastings (Drummindoo, Westport) and Honoria Browne (Rossanrubble), aunt Peg O’Malley (Rosclave, Newport), nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours, former work colleagues, handball club members and friends. Liam is also deeply mourned by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Removal was from Liam’s home on Monday, March 10 for his Requiem Mass in St. Patrick’s Church, Newport. It was concelebrated by Fr Declan Carroll, PP and Fr John Kenny, PP Ballyovey (Partry and Tourmakeady). Family members took part in the funeral liturgy which was beautifully enhanced by the music and singing of Kieran Lawless and Newport Church Choir.
In a touching homily Fr Declan Carroll thanked all who had gathered over the weekend to lend support to Liam’s wife Patricia, son Ciarán and daughter Maria and the extended Burke and Cawley families:
“Today is a difficult day. It’s a day that we say that physical goodbye to Liam, and you say that goodbye to a husband, a father, a brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, friend and neighbour. But it’s goodbye just for now, until we meet again. Liam has gone to his eternal home to begin that new and eternal journey of his life.
Liam was an absolute gentleman, a man who was loved not only by his own beloved family, but by all who knew him, from his colleagues in Eircom to the lads in his beloved handball club, to Burrishoole GAA Club where he trained many at underage level. Liam was an all-round man who did everything with a smile on his face and a gentle approach. He had a genuine interest in all that he did and undertook in his life.
Liam was humble too in all that he achieved in life from All Ireland medals, to his time as Chairman of Connaught Juvenile Board. He wore success humbly on his sleeve and tomorrow was always another day. He loved life and enjoyed living it. He looked forward to retiring from Eircom and entering a new chapter in his life with Patricia and his family.
This chapter of Liam’s life as we all know took a sudden change when he was diagnosed with cancer some months ago. Liam faced his sickness with a positive attitude; he bore it bravely, never once complained and never asked “why me?”.
Fr Carroll said that each time he called to Liam he received a warm welcome and was greeted with a smile. That’s what everybody experienced anytime they met Liam. He was married for 31 happy and good years to Patricia and was immensely proud of his children, Ciarán and Maria. He had left all three with wonderful and happy memories to help sustain them as they grieved his passing.
Fr Carroll said that as Liam had All-Ireland medals himself he took great delight in seeing his son Ciarán join the same ranks of achievement.
“Ciarán, you have many happy memories of travelling not only around Ireland with your Dad to games but all around the world, and I’m sure there was plenty of banter, fun and the odd sing-song during those outings. Liam loved learning new songs and he knew many an old song too.
Liam loved a sing-song and enjoyed socialising, meeting people and having the odd pint or two. I often met himself and Peter in Reid’s and it was lovely to see two brothers who were absolutely best friends, as well as brothers.
Today as we gather we give thanks to God for giving Liam to us even though we can’t understand the mystery of life as to why or when we are born, or why or when we die. These are questions we find hard to answer! All I know is Liam Burke has left a wonderful legacy to all of us who knew and loved him in life.”
Fr Carroll said Liam’s colleagues would remember him as a man who always kept the head, was cool and calm and never got ruffled. He was an outstanding engineer, clever and wise in all that he did. But he was also a man who enjoyed life, the banter, the social occasions, the celebrations and the sing-songs. He would be remembered by countless people for all the right reasons. He added:
“Liam was blessed with the love and care given to him and it was comforting for his family that Liam was at home over the past week where he indeed got that extra care and love from his resident nurse Patricia and his beloved Maria and Ciarán, and all of you, his family. Liam was happy to be at home and he had no fear of dying, he was truly at peace and he said a lovely sentence to Patricia in the hours before he died – “I am going home”. Heaven is our eternal home, and that’s where Liam is now, where he will watch over you in a new and different way Patricia, Ciarán and Maria and all of his dear family and friends.
That eternal home awaits all of us, and when that time comes that smile, that voice you always recognised, the hand that shook your hand, or embraced you, will once again welcome you home into your eternal home.
So until that time comes, be there for each other, support each other and recall with joy the many happy times you spent in the company of someone you loved, someone who has made you a better person because of you knowing him.
May Liam enjoy forever his new and eternal home.”
One of the biggest Guards of Honour ever seen in Newport followed the hearse as it made its way from St. Patrick’s Church to Kilbride Cemetery. It comprised Eircom colleagues from all parts of the country, members of Newport Handball Club and the Irish Handball Association, Burrishoole GAA Club and community groups and friends.
Fr Carroll officiated at the graveside as Liam’s interment took place. May his noble and caring soul have peaceful rest. Ar dheis Dé a anam dílis.
The following reflection was given by Gemma O’Malley of Newport Handball Club at the end of Liam’s Mass.
The Little Things
It really is the little things that mean the most of all ,
The “let me help you with that” things that may seem very small,
The “I’ll be glad to do it” things that make your cares much lighter,
The “laugh with me, it’s funny” things that make your outlook brighter.
The “never mind the trouble” things, the “yes, I understand,”
The interest and encouragement in everything you’ve planned,
It really is the little things, the friendly word or smile,
That add such happiness to life and make it more worthwhile.
If you change nothing, nothing will change
Liam had found that if you love life, life will love you back.
He accepted life unconditionally. Life holds so much-
So much to be happy about always.
Most people ask for happiness on condition.
Liam felt happiness could be found
only if you don’t set conditions.
