DOLORES Keane’s brother told mourners she will leave “a massive gap in our lives” as hundreds gathered to attend her funeral.
The legendary Irish singer, who performed with the De Dannan group, died at home on Monday at the age of 72.
Her funeral mass took place at St Patrick and St Cuana Church in Kilcoona, Co Galway today.
It opened with a rendition of her song Never be the Sun.
The ceremony saw hundreds attend, including family, members of the local community, and a number of high-profile figures, including President Catherine Connolly and former president Michael D Higgins.
Many mourners took the time to pay tribute to Dolores and speak about the lasting impact she had on their lives.
Heartbroken brother Matt looked back on Dolores’s life and spoke of the absence her passing will leave behind.
He said: “She had a presence, she’d done loads of stuff for television over the years.
“We were always proud of her, of course. She was sometimes a bit of a tearaway as well, as you might know.
“She was the girl that worked beside some of us. A school friend, maybe, a neighbour. Just an ordinary friend that you met in the street.
“Of course, to us, Dolores was a mother, she was a sister, she was a grandmother, an aunt, and she was a cousin.
“The sister we loved to bits and often threatened to strangle. But now she is a sister that’s going to leave a massive gap in our lives.”
Father Peter Gannon, a long-time family friend, spoke about the impact Dolores had on Irish culture.
He told the congregation: “Dolores Keane died on the eve of St Patrick’s Day, and over decades of life, she has been such a wonderful ambassador, universally, for a huge part of our tradition and culture.
“She has been the figure of what it stands for to be truly Irish.
“One of the most humble people that walked this Earth, and even through all the universal fame, it never changed her as a person.
“There wasn’t a hint of airs or graces about Dolores, and what was most charming was her lifelong connection with home.”
Poignantly, he added: “If, up there in heaven, they have been accustomed to the quietness of early nights for rest, they can forget that now, because there’s a lot of catching up to do, there’s a lot of songs to be resurrected, and the heavenly choir has only got better.”
A spokesperson from the local community also spoke of the pride in having Keane as one of their own.
He said: “The whole parish of Donaghpatrick in Kilcoona, and in particular the community of Caherlistrane, where she has lived all her life, are so proud of Dolores.
“When a stranger would ask us where we are from, we would answer, ‘Caherlistrane, Dolores Keane country’, and there was instant recognition in their eyes.
“We are so proud to claim her and call her ours. It meant so much to us when she claimed us back, as she often did in the many mentions in interviews down through the years.
“She loved Caherlistrane, and Caherlistrane loved her.”
Dolores is survived by her son Joseph, daughter Tara and partner Colin, and was buried at Donaghpatrick Cemetery following her funeral mass.
