GARDA Robert McCallion, the Swinford garda who was seriously injured after being knocked down by a stolen car in Letterkenny nearly two weeks ago, lost his battle for life when he died in the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin last Tuesday. The 29-year-old had been on a life-support machine since he was transferred to the hospital.
A long and poignant journey home 
Michael Commins GARDA Robert McCallion, the Swinford garda who was seriously injured after being knocked down by a stolen car in Letterkenny nearly two weeks ago, lost his battle for life when he died in the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin last Tuesday. The 29-year-old had been on a life-support machine since he was transferred to the hospital.
Sadness and grief at the loss of a life in such tragic circumstances while on duty swept the county and country when news of his passing became known. In his native Swinford, the sense of loss was at its deepest. Robert loved his home town, his community, his people.
The youngest of a family of four born to Donegal native Bob McCallion and his wife Nancy (nee Morley from Newbrook, Claremorris), he came from a salt of the earth family. Decent people with a capital ‘D’, people with no agendas but to serve and help make communities better places in which to live.
Robert was following in a strong tradition of service in the Garda ranks. His father Bob was a member of An Garda Síochána for many years. His uncles John and Daniel McCallion served with the force. His own brother John is a garda stationed in Ballina. Robert was proud and delighted to join the Garda Síochána in recent years. He was looking forward to a transfer nearer home in the coming months.
At Corrigan’s funeral home on Thursday afternoon in Camden Street, Dublin, family met neighbours from home, many of them residing in the Dublin region, as well as Garda colleagues and some complete strangers who came along to extend their sympathy to the family. Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, the outstanding Cork native (former county footballer) and noble gentleman who made several trips to the Beaumont to be with the McCallion family, was once again present to lend his comfort and support.
Some time later, led by garda out-riders and two Garda jeeps, the hearse eased its way into Camden Street to begin the long journey home to Mayo. Down along the canal and eventually out on to the new motorway, it was a straight run as other gardaí colleagues blocked off each road as the cortège rolled through.
All along the way there were poignant moments as people on sidewalks made the sign of the cross, silently sharing in the grief of the McCallion family. On every bridge over the main road down as far as the toll bridge, a number of garda colleagues stood on top, facing the oncoming cortege, and gave it a salute as it passed beneath the bridges. It was an extraordinarily poignant journey out of Dublin and down into the Kildare and Meath and Westmeath countryside.
In Longford, the Gardaí had again ensured that the funeral had an uninterrupted drive through the town before moving on to Strokestown, Frenchpark, Ballaghaderreen and across the county border near Carracastle.
Family members shed tears as the cortege approached Charlestown. At the by-pass junction, members of Sarsfields GAA Club and friends lined either side of the road with a special guard of honour. Charlestown and Swinford may be arch rivals on the sporting fields of east Mayo, but at times like this there are no divisions, just a shared unity and a shared grief.
And then it was on home to Swinford, a town shocked and numbed by the loss of a favourite son. Hundreds of people joined the guards of honour, led by the local GAA club and joined by other groups and neighbours. Through the streets of the town he loved so well and with such a passion, the hearse carried the body of young Robert McCallion, streets that were second home to him during his all-too-short a life. The silence and respect from those who lined the streets told their own story. And then it was on to Park Road and the family home. A home filled with memorabilia of Robert’s sporting career, his love of games, his love of life.
For parents Bob and Nancy, brother John and sisters Noreen and Deirdre, it was their first time home in almost two weeks since they began their bedside vigil in the Beaumont Hospital. Back among their own people and caressed by the Swinford community where strong handclasps and teary eyes said more than words. The language of silence understood by the human heart.
On Holy Thursday night, the family had Robert back home again. Family relations and close friends joined them for a quiet night. On Good Friday evening, at 6pm, the first of hundreds and hundreds of sympathisers began to arrive. All evening and late into the night. Holy Saturday saw a constant stream visit the family home. They came from all over, all day long and again into the night.
Peter Geraghty, stalwart of Swinford GAA Club, excelled in the diplomatic way in which he quietly and without fuss guided the people in the queue. Other members served their time too, a reflection yet again of the extraordinary devotion of grassroots GAA people in the service of their communities, a service that is re-enacted from the Glens of Antrim to the far south of Wexford and Kerry.
Family members from the McCallion clan from the Inishowen peninsula in Donegal, the very large extended family outreach of the Morley family from Newbrook, going back to previous generations in Magheramore, Knock and to the old Commins homestead in Cloonmore, Claremorris, all were present to help Bob and Nancy and family and friends cope with their tragedy. Some of the relations were over from England. All had a special welcome for Maria O’Donnell, a teacher from Ranafast (Rann na Feirste) in Donegal, Robbie’s girlfriend.
Sunday brought hundreds more before finally it was time for the removal to Swinford Parish Church that evening.
The Swinford and Mayo flags hung at half mast outside Swinford GAA Club, a place where Robert togged out on hundreds of occasions as he donned his beloved Swinford jersey up through the ranks. Up the steps of the church where he was baptised and received the sacraments. For the McCallion family, their hill of Calvary, their very own Via Dolorosa during Holy Week.
Books of condolences
BOOKS of condolences were opened at many Garda stations around the country in recent days. People throughout the land quietly signed their names as a mark of respect to Garda Robert McCallion. In Letterkenny station, where Robbie was based, several members of the Travelling community came to the station to sign the book of condolences.
“Robbie was very well got by all sections of the community,” said a member of An Garda Síochána in Donegal. “He just had a great way of relating to people from all walks of life. He was a real natural. Many of the Travellers in the Letterkenny area knew him by his first name. He loved having the craic with them and they had great respect for him too. Many of the guards in Letterkenny were especially thankful to them for coming in and signing the book of condolences.”
