Eamon Byrne was someone special. He touched all of us who knew him. He was a doer who loved life and lived life to the full. He loved his family but also made so much time to do other things - things to make life better for so many other people.
Eamon loved the St Vincent de Paul. He was down the Thursday night before he died, as usual, in Dominick Street, where he couldn't pass through the flats without "Howya Mr Byrne" being roared down at him front the balconies. And even though he was President for six years, what he loved most was visiting and talking to people in their own homes. His contribution to the St Vincent de Paul also extended to national and international level. In 1984 he undertook an arduous and demanding trip to the Cameroons and Nigeria on behalf of the Society in Ireland. His task was to forge support links between the Society here and in these countries, the results of which are in place today.
Eamon always saw the best in people, arguing the case for "just one more" chance for someone who may have let him down in the past. All of us in the St Vincent de Paul loved him - from Mick who knew him almost 40 years right up to the most recent recruits. He put many of us younger people to shame in the way he encouraged and, embraced change. He was particularly great with new people joining the St Vincent de Paul - giving them such a warm welcome that he immediately became their friend. He was the type of guy, who you seemed to have known all your life.
We will all miss the twinkle in his eye, his good form and sense of humour. The look of mischief in his eye when he still accorded you the status of "young fella" or "an important man like you" and as a self depreciating flatterer he always got the best out of people - inveigling people to the very end - knocking on doors, begging for donations to the annual Sale of Work, prodding all of us into action, following up, making sure it was done, and because he did so much himself you didn't mind being prodded. Whether it was Beechams colleagues for hampers, friends for advice, Eamon sought out their help, not for himself, but to make life better for others.
Apart from his 30 years of unstinted service in Dominick Street St Vincent de Paul, he ran the South Dublin Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society for many years organising fund raising, visitation, holidays and a host of other activities.
Eamon loved walking - especially with Muriel. They both joined An Oige in its founding years. For 48 years he was a member of the "Footsore" Walking Club . . . I walking was one of the activities! Eamon and Muriel covered every corner of Ireland and are an inspiration to all of us in their love of the outdoor and of the Irish countryside - Clogga, Donegal, Kerty, Wicklow, Clifden and Mournes.
In his seventies, when most people retire, Eamon joined the Citizens Information Centre in Crumlin to help out and just before he died had agreed to become their P.R.O. He also threw himself back into school at Pearse College and became an active participant in the "school trips" to the Continent, delighting in making us all jealous of his sojourns abroad.
Eamon had a fabulous ability to relate to all people across all divides - young or old, male or, female, rich or poor treating everyone the same way, seeking to resolve differences and getting things done. And of course there was nothing he liked better than to sit down afterwards and have ajar and a laugh.
Busy to the end he was speeding down the highways of South Africa with Muriel and his daughter Brenda earlier this year.
Our thoughts and hearts go out to Muriel who was such a wonderful companion to Eamon for 53 years and who is going to miss him so much, as will all his family, children and grandchildren.
Thank you Eamon for the brilliant lovely memories. However, Eamon would now say it was time - time to go - I have no doubt that he was ready and that he had a lovely peaceful death - he had fought the good fight. Already he had said goodbye to many old friends, Jenny Smith, Peter O'Brien, Fred Gallagher and Renzo, and he could not have hoped for a nicer way to go. Eamon, it was an honour and a privilege to have known you.