Overflowing attendance at funeral of Martin Travers in Clar church

"If there were more people like Martin Travers, the world would be a better place" ran part of one of the Prayers of the Faithful at the funeral Mass in St Agatha's Church, Clar on Friday as the late Martin Travers made his final journey.

An overflowing congregation at the Mass was testimony to the popularity of the deceased, whose death took place after he had borne an illness for the last year.

The requiem Mass was concelebrated by chief concelebrant Fr James Gillespie, PP, Clar; Fr Danny McBrearty, Fr Francis McLoone and Fr Pearse Mullin.

The entrance to Clar church was lined by huge guards of honour from his former workmates at Eircom (P&T) and by the neighbourhood of Leghowney, whom he served with great distinction as a volunteer.

Of a quiet and unassuming nature, Martin Travers, better known as one of the twins, was universally liked and loved. Never one for the limelight, Martin carried out his duties with an honesty and integrity which made him a pillar of the local community.

Born in September 1954, along with his twin brother Joseph, Martin was one of nine of a family born to Bridget and Barney Travers.

After going to the local Copany National School, he later went to the Vocational School in Donegal Town where he completed his Group and Intermediate Certificates.

From there he became an apprentice electrician with McMahon Electrical before joining the P&T, later to become Eircom, in 1972, with whom he worked until his retirement in 2010.

The late Martin Travers (3rd from left, back row) pictured at a P&T Darts Night back in the late 1980s

His ability to turn his hand to anything made him an invaluable member of the local community and he was willing to help out whenever there was a need.

He was to meet his wife, Roise, in 1982 and they were married in 1985, on a day that coincided with a big World title fight involving Barry McGuigan. "Everyone was glued to the TV including the wedding party. The first dance was delayed because everyone was watching the fight," said Fr James Gillespie, in his homily

Martin's life was well represented by the symbols brought forward at the start of Mass. A Donegal jersey to represent his love of GAA and supporting Donegal; a paintbrush to represent his work in his own house and Leghowney Hall; a golf tee to represent his time spent with friends at Murvagh Golf Club and a walking lead which he used with his great companion, dog Joey, with whom he could be seen walking the local roads every day.

"Martin will be remembered as a great father, grandfather, brother, neighbour, a man who had great pride in the area he loved; a man of great faith and a man, you could say, had still much to live for," said Fr Gillespie.

"Martin is a man who has left many happy memories for his family and extended family who will hold on to those memories for the rest of their lives," said Fr Gillespie.

After the funeral Mass, Martin was laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard.

Martin is survived by his wife Roise; triplet sons Enda (Dearbhla), Shane (Andrea), Cahill; daughters Aoife (Tommy) and Grainne; brothers Joseph (his twin), Liam (Nora), Eamon (Rita), Brian (Vivienne); sisters Mary (Lexi) and Noreen (Michael); grandchildren Tom Ollie, Bobby and Lilly, as well as extended family and many friends.