Colm Fitzpatrick
The goal of legendary comedian Brendan Grace was to “lift the gloom of the nation” and the people who came to see him, Fr Brian D’Arcy said at the funeral of the national treasure.
The Irish star who died aged 68 following a short illness was best known for his role as Fr Fintan Stack in the hit-comedy series Father Ted. Hundreds lined the streets of Dublin as he was laid to rest at the Church of St Nicolas of Myra.
Leading the funeral, well-known priest Fr Brian D’Arcy said that the star created unity regardless of one’s religious background.
“Everybody loved Brendan Grace, whether they were Protestant or Catholic; young or old; educated or non-educated. He unified the country and sent them home with a smile on their face.”
Fr D’Arcy added that the comedian will live on in the memories of those who knew and watched him.
“As long as a person’s memory lives and as long as we live, Brendan Grace will never die because all of us have enthusiastic, brilliant and long-lasting, life-lasting and life-changing memories of the wonderful man that he was – the humanity of the man, the generosity of the man, the goodness of the man.”