'This is a sad day for all of us' - Fr Eddie Gallagher at Trevor Melly's funeral

"This is a sad and a hard day for all of us. We are broken-hearted. Trevor was  my good friend for many years and I will miss him,” said Fr Eddie Gallagher in his homily at the funeral of Trevor Melly in St Brigid’s Church, Leitirmacaward on Friday.

The village came to a standstill and the church was packed to overflowing as the remains of Trevor Melly made its last journey the short distance from his home across the road.

The deceased, who passed away on Saturday last, was from a very well known family and he was also well-known through his involvement with the GAA and especially the local Na Rossa club.

Fr Eddie Gallagher was the chief celebrant of the funeral Mass and at times he was quite emotional, such was the friendship he had with the deceased.

"He used to visit me quite a lot in the parochial house and the last time we met and had a conversation was last Thursday down in Michael Bonner's house,” said Fr Gallagher, who added  that he got an awful shock when he got the ‘phone call on Saturday night that Trevor had died.

Parish Priest of Templecrone, Fr Johnny Moore also addressed the mourners speaking of the popularity of Trevor Melly, of the No 5 Na Rossa jersey and his love of cards, darts, the Massey 35X and a Honda 50.

Everybody is heartbroken, but I don't have the answers. I cannot explain the way things have happened," said  Fr Moore. 

“There is pain, grief, great memories. But he has left us with lots of questions that will always kinda haunt us for the rest of our lives, thoughts like maybe I should have, maybe I could have, maybe I would have. And it's destructive those thoughts. There are no answers," said Fr Moore. Fr Aodhan Cannon d Fr Morty O'Shea were alsoa concelebranst at the funeral mass.

A famous picture by Michael O'Donnell of a young Trevor Melly at a Donegal game in Ballybofey with his father Jamsie

In a very wide ranging homily, Fr Eddie Gallagher welcomed all who had travelled to be at the funeral.

“It has been a painful week,” said Fr Eddie, who said he first met Trevor in 1993 when he was a pupil of Meenagoan NS. “I have many memories of those years. Trevor was one of my altar boys and when the new graveyard was opened, I gave him the job of carrying the holy water with Bishop Hegarty as he blessed the graves.”

Born on 14th June, 1978, Trevor Melly was baptised by Fr John McGlynn and was confirmed by Bishop Seamus Hegarty in St Crone’s Church, Dungloe on 20th May, 1991. He married Louise Gormley in St Brigid’s Church on 27th June, 2009.

“I never lost contact with Trevor over the last 31 years,” said Fr Eddie.

“I aAlways found him very pleasant and a good friend.  I used to tease him about his days in Meenagowan School and as an altar boy.

"I remember one evening Master Doherty left the school and left a window open. Some of the boys were playing football, there's a good few of them here today, and they went in the window. They didn't realise that the Master left the window open on purpose so that fresh air would get in. They didn't realise either that Charlie was going to come back very shortly to close the window.

"Charlie did come back and when the boys saw him they went away like rabbits. But Trevor couldn't get out the window and he was imprisoned in the school when Master Doherty arrived. I don't know what happened but I'm sure he didn't get away scot free while the rest of them had cleared the ditch.”

Fr Eddie talked of the book by Moya Brennan, The Other Side of the Rainbow, about her own life, turning it around from darkness to light.

"Today we are all on the  dark side of the rainbow. We have lost and there's darkness around us. What can we do on this day? We can turn first of all to God, to prayer, to  the Mass. We can make prayer a part of every day.

"We can talk and share our problems with other people.”

Fr Eddie recalled when he came back to work in Leitir he would see Trevor’s white van with Gweebarra Construction on the side and see him many times in a Na Rossa jersey.

He also recalled the night in July 2022, less than two years ago, when Trevor nearly died of a heart attack. “Thanks to Dr Amara Bonner and other assistants, Trevor was saved that night and brought back to health.

“I will miss Trevor. I will miss his visits. I will miss his company. I am lonely and I'm broken hearted. I hope that some day I will be with Trevor in heaven.

“I hope he is in heaven today and he's talking to Charlie Doherty about that window over in Meenagowan school,” said Fr Eddie, who offered his sympathy to the bereaved, his wife  Louise and daughter Erin; his  parents Jamsie and Brid; his sisters Diane and her husband Michael Gallagher in Killygordon; Sinead, his brothers Felix and his wife Janet; Barry and Tanya; to all the nieces and nephews and so many friends.

He made special mention of Anthony Molloy, who he said had been a great support to him in making the funeral arrangements. “He was the Donegal captain when Donegal won the All-Ireland in 1992 and Trevor was proud to be there that day.

“The one gift we can give Trevor today is to remember him in our prayers - concluded Fr Eddie.

Music and song at the funeral Mass was provided by Mikaela Bonner and afterwards Trevor Melly’s remains were interred in the adjoining cemetery in Leitirmacaward.