Final goodbye to the revered Sean Purcell

Galway football legend Sean Purcell was a man whose capacity to make friends was as great as his ability to score, his funeral mass at Tuam cathedral was told.

Hundreds of those friends gathered yesterday to say their final goodbye to "The Master".

Chief celebrant Monsignor Tommy Shannon, Ballinrobe parish priest and brother-in-law of Sean Purcell, said Sean had cherished those friendships and, in turn, his own friendship was also highly valued. "Friends loved his company, wit, and his keen intellect."

Among the many who attended the biggest funeral Co Galway has seen were former president and UN high commissioner Mary Robinson and her husband, Nick, whose daughter is to wed Sean Purcell's son, Robert, in Dublin.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was represented by Cmdt Michael Murray, son of Jimmy Murray, a former Roscommon All-Ireland winning captain. The Government was also represented over the three-day funeral by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Noel Treacy.

Sportsmen, politicians and dignitaries from all over the country turned up to pay their respects. Sean's playing partner, "Terrible Twin" Frank Stockwell, was not well enough to attend the funeral, but he listened in to the proceedings on parish radio.

The GAA was represented by among others former president Jack Boothman, director general Liam Mulvihill, former Dublin manager Kevin Heffernan and former Mayo manager John Maughan. Broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and many of Sean's three-in-a-row comrades also attended.

Eulogies at the Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption were given by GAA president Sean Kelly; former All-Ireland medal winner and author Jack Mahon; Sean Purcell's son, John, and his brother, Frank. Tommy Varden, sponsor of the Galway team and lifelong friend, gave the graveside oration.

John Purcell said the recent All-Ireland success of the Galway footballers had given his father many happy memories during his final year.

Mr Kelly said Sean Purcell and Frank Stockwell were revered as great footballers, even in his home county of Kerry. Monsignor Shannon said: "It could be said that Sean Purcell entered the Promised Land at his birth - so many were the gifts of nature with which God blessed him. The first and most obvious was his skill with a football that he showed when he was little more than four years of age."

He said the teenage star of 1947 (when Sean brought St Jarlath's its first Hogan Cup victory) was destined to become a star at every level as he made his prodigious talent available to club, county, province, university and country over 15 glorious years.

"Modest, self-effacing, almost to a fault, you often had the impression that he was being apologetic, even dismissive about all his successes, somewhat embarrassed by the range of his skills and the extent of his fame.

"And linked with that modesty was another admirable quality - his respect for the talent and reputation of other players within the county, the province, the country, especially those who did not meet with the success their footballing careers so richly deserved."

The monsignor said it was no wonder Sean was held in such high regard by his contemporaries within the county and province and by footballers all over the country. They knew his admiration for them was "not tainted by condescension or the superior air, but born out of sincere, unfeigned praise".

He also spoke of Sean's great sense of rhythm and impeccable timing and his ability to make a party come alive with his party pieces, Steamboat Bill and The Green, Green Grass of Home.

In his eulogy, Jack Mahon "representing the men of '56" spoke of how Sean called on Frank Stockwell (who is in bad health) every day and how for the past three years, he had called to see Jack himself every day, always arriving with a box of after-dinner mints.

He spoke of watching Sean as a young player on the senior field and being enthralled by his poise, balance, acceleration and unique style of kicking.

Members of the Saw Doctors played the Maroon and White Forever as the coffin was taken from the cathedral for its final journey to the cemetery. A lone piper led the cortege through streets thronged with people. Local businesses shut their doors during the four-hour funeral ceremony as a mark of respect.