Murdered sheep farmer remembered as loving relative and proud Kerry man
Mourners packed Holy Cross Church in the town on Saturday morning to pay their final respects to the 56-year-old and support his family.
His remains were brought into the church in a wood box topped with sheep's wool.
Speaking on behalf of the family ahead of the funeral service, Mr Gaine's cousin Eoghan Clarke remembered him as a 'proud Kerry man and an even prouder Kenmare man'.
He said he will be missed terribly to applause from those gathered.
In his homily, parish priest George Hayes described Kenmare as a place of enchanting beauty, but said into their 'peaceful, idyllic, sylvan existence' recently came something terrible.
'Over these weeks, since Michael went missing, we've asked so many questions – and, in life, sometimes, there are no answers,' he told mourners.
'But in the best tradition of Irish funerals, today is a day for recovering the dignity of Michael Gaine.
'Today we recover Michael's dignity because, today, we speak Michael's name with love … we gather to acknowledge Michael as someone who loved much and was much loved.'
He urged: 'Let's not give in to hatred and bitterness … let's strive for justice and fairness.
'Winter will pass. Spring will come again. There will be better days, we will continue to honour Mike and speak Mike's name with love, and may Mike now rest in God's eternal care and God's eternal peace.'
Earlier, Mr Clarke said his cousin was known for his incredible work ethic, personality and humour, and was a loving son, sibling and uncle.
He recalled his passion for rallying, farming, current affairs, holidays and music.
'As we all know, Michael was generous. Incredibly generous. He had time for everyone and would chip in to help any time and any place,' he said.
'Michael seemed to always find the time to do the work of three men on his own farm, help out friends, family and neighbours, keep up to speed on current affairs and enjoy himself.
'He loved life, he always made the most of it and he truly lived every single moment. Whether you met him during lambing or while on a trip away to a car show or rally event, he always had the iconic twinkle in his eye – the 'I'm delighted to see you', 'I'm in great form', 'let's go and enjoy ourselves' glint in his eye.'
He also said that Mr Gaine's wife Janice and sisters knew his soft caring side.
'Caring and affectionate. Kind and considerate. He was not afraid to show his emotions. He was also brave, fearless and strong,' he said.
'We will all miss Michael terribly. I know I'll miss our phone calls the most, as well as that happy feeling that Michael gave you when you were with him.
'He was always the glue that held the Rally of the Lakes weekend together and I will always look back very fondly on our adventures to the best spectating spots in Kerry.'
Mr Gaine was initially reported missing having been last seen in Kenmare on March 20.
Extensive searches were carried out with assistance at one stage from the Irish Defence Forces.
On April 29, gardai announced the missing person probe had been upgraded to a homicide investigation.
Partial human remains were found on Mr Gaine's land on May 17 which were identified as belonging to the missing farmer.
A man aged in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder on May 19.
He was held for questioning for one day before being released without charge from Killarney garda station.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Peter Robinson and the loyalist ‘invasion' of Clontibret
But in the early hours of 7 August 1986, hundreds of Ulster Loyalists, some in paramilitary uniforms, spilled over the border and into Clontribret. A trail of destruction and violence descended on the village. Gardaí were attacked with two officers ending up in hospital. Anti Anglo-Irish agreement graffiti was sprayed throughout the village, and cars and property were damaged. The so-called 'invasion' was led by then DUP Deputy leader Peter Robinson – the only person to be arrested. He was later convicted of unlawful assembly and given a mammoth fine as his supporters brawled outside the courthouse. Ian Paisley said Robinson alone was responsible for the incident, Robinson blamed Paisley. To revisit the infamous Clontibret Invasion – Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride.
Telegraph
16 hours ago
- Telegraph
Former councillor killed on road he tried to make safer
A former Labour councillor has been killed in a car crash on a road he campaigned to make safer. John Michael Duggan, 81, died in hospital after his car collided with a skip lorry on Aug 1 as he tried to join the A19 in North Yorkshire. The former Selby district councillor was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by air ambulance but was pronounced dead a short time later. The lorry driver, a 42-year-old man from York, was arrested at the scene and was assisting officers with enquiries, according to North Yorkshire Police. Mr Duggan had previously highlighted the junction on York Rd, which connects the village of Riccall with the major road, as one of several seriously dangerous intersections along the A19. Campaigner appealed for roundabout As a parish councillor for Riccall, he told the York Press newspaper in 2007 he was 'gravely concerned' about the safety of local drivers following a number of accidents, including fatal ones. He said: 'The stretch of the A19 that runs past Riccall is one of the fastest sections of the road, and the speed of traffic using this section is totally unacceptable to local people who are trying to enter and exit the village.' Mr Duggan had called for a roundabout to be built in the area and presented plans for one to North Yorkshire County Council. Steve Shaw-Wright, the Labour leader of Selby town council, said it was 'tragically ironic' that Mr Duggan died on a stretch of road he campaigned to make safer. 'John was one who would campaign for what he believed to be right for his community, whether that was within the bounds of his political group or outside. John was very determined to support what people needed in his community,' he told ITV. 'He campaigned for the roundabout to get access and ingress from Riccall for a long, long time, it's tragically ironic that that was the place where he lost his life.' 'Tragedy makes need for improvement clear' Keir Mather, the Labour MP for Selby, said the death of Mr Duggan, who was formerly a senior representative for the Unite union, highlighted the need for road safety improvements in the area. 'John was a well-known and much-loved local man, a father, uncle and a grandfather,' he said. 'He was known too for his time as a union convenor, a Selby district and North Yorkshire county councillor and, perhaps most poignantly, as a campaigner for better road safety in Riccall. 'This tragedy makes awfully clear the need for road safety improvements at both A19 junctions in Riccall.' Mr Mather said he would press North Yorkshire council to reconsider introducing a roundabout 'or at the very least a speed reduction' on the stretch of the A19. National Highways brought in a temporary speed limit of 50mph on part of the A19 in Teesside last year after a series of collisions. The A19 runs from Seaton Burn, north of Newcastle, to just north of Doncaster, and has a 70mph speed limit for cars for much of its length.
Leader Live
a day ago
- Leader Live
BBC faces criticism over delay in paying court-ordered damages to Gerry Adams
The corporation lost a major defamation case earlier this year after Mr Adams took them to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme and an accompanying online story. They contained an allegation that Mr Adams sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson. Mr Adams denied any involvement. In May, a jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour and awarded him 100,000 euros (£84,000) after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. The BBC, which was found by the jury not to have acted in good faith nor in a fair and reasonable way, was also ordered to pay the former Sinn Fein leader's legal costs. Adam Smyth, director of BBC NI, expressed disappointment in the verdict and said the corporation believes it supplied extensive evidence to the court of the careful editorial process and journalistic diligence applied to the programme and accompanying online article. After the decision, the broadcaster's legal team was granted a stay in the payment of the full award as it took time to consider an appeal, subject to paying half the damages (50,000 euros or £42,000) and 250,000 euros (£210,000) towards solicitors' fees. In June, the BBC confirmed it would not pursue an appeal. However, it is understood that by August 1 the BBC had not paid the damages. Mr Adams previously indicated that he planned to donate what he receives to good causes. He specified that these would include for children in Gaza as well as groups in the Irish language sector and those who are homeless. A source close to Mr Adams told the PA news agency: 'The delay by the BBC is deplorable and it should move speedily towards discharging the order of the court.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'Total costs will be finalised and payable in due course.'
