A final farewell: Funeral takes place of Mark Doherty, Letterkenny

As the funeral cortege of Mark Doherty slowly drove away from the Church of the Irish Martyrs in Letterkenny following his funeral Mass, a round of applause broke out among those who formed a guard of honour in the church grounds.

They were Mark’s close friends from Letterkenny Golf Club - friends who had enjoyed his company, and admired his talents on the fairways of Barnhill over many years. Their round of applause, a final way of saying goodbye.

Mark, who was 63 and originally from Strabane, was a popular member of Letterkenny Golf Club. He was part of a group of friends from Letterkenny who were on their annual golfing trip to Vilamoura in Portugal. He died after taking ill out on the golf course on Monday, November 21, the day after they had arrived in Portugal.

In a beautiful address at the start of Tuesday morning’s funeral Mass, Mark’s son Ciaran made special mention of the group of friends who were with Mark in his final moments on the golf course in Vilamoura.

On behalf of his mum Ann, and the Doherty and McAlaney families, Ciaran offered a sincere word of thanks and said their actions in Portugal showed just why they were the kind of friends that his father often spoke so highly of.

The Doherty family lived at Thorndale in Letterkenny and Mark worked in taxation, in an office at his home. 

Ciaran remembered his father as a man of few words. Someone who was quiet and reserved, yet  well able to come up with a quick witted comment from the corner of the room.

“He lived his life with as little drama as possible,” he said.

“He spent hours listening and giving guidance to his clients. Dad was a counsellor to people, as well as their accountant.

“If there is one thing we can learn from dad, it is to be kind to everyone. You don’t have to be the loudest in the room to make the biggest impact.”

Ciaran said his father often reminisced about his childhood days, growing up with his six siblings and heading to Donegal, squeezed into the car along with their parents Willie and Harriet.

The day would be spent at the beach and it would end with a visit to the Back Road in Letterkenny to visit Mark’s granny, and his uncle Barney. There would be a game of football against the Duffys and the McGlincheys.

Ciaran said in the days of the border crossings, when it would have been easier to say he was from Donegal, his dad would proudly declare that he was a Strabane man from Ballycolman Estate.  

Strabane priest Fr Michael Doherty and Fr Charlie Byrne PP, Carrigart concelebrated the funeral Mass along with chief-celebrant, Fr Ciaran Harkin. 

He told Mark’s immediate family members that over the past two weeks since Mark’s death, they were joined on their difficult journey by so many people - other family members, cousins, neighbours and friends.

“They have walked with you in your grief, sharing stories of Mark, stories that capture so many aspects of his life, lifting you at times from your sorrow,” he said.

He said Mark was a man of quiet nature, of quick wit, of generosity and kindness. He was a man who had his passions - among them golf, Liverpool FC and his music. He said loyalty and friendship were such a part of Mark’s life.

Fr Harkin also spoke of Mark’s faith in God, and referred to a prayer book which sat on his table in his office. The book was a present on his First Holy Communion day from his granny in Letterkenny back in 1966.

“To have that book beside him, it obviously meant something special to him - a reminder of the love of his grandparents and of that special day when he received the Eucharist for the first time,” he said.

“For you, his family and his close friends, I know that you will keep his memory alive by the stories you will tell of him, and of course, by remembering him in your prayers.”

The readings and prayers of the faithful during the Mass were performed by family members. Music was provided by Gabrielle Fitzsimmons, Declan Nee and Una Marie McLaughlin along with Mark’s cousin, Assumpta Donaghy and family friend, Gerard Bradley.

Mark is survived by his wife Ann and their son Ciaran. Predeceased by his father Willie and mother Harriet, Strabane, he is deeply regretted by his brothers Terry, Kevin, Liam, Paul and sister Mary, Strabane and sister Aileen, London.

He was buried after his funeral Mass in Umlagh Cemetery, Carrigart.