Honoring Michael Gaine: A Community Bids Tearful Adieu in Kenmare
The search for Michael Gaine captivated the nation for weeks. TheKerryfarmer was last seen alive on March 20 in the now-familiar image caught on CCTV footage at a shop in Kenmare.
Gardaíbelieve he was murdered soon after this when he returned to his isolated farmyard at Carrig East, six kilometres from Kenmare town. On May 16, human remains were found by a relative while spreading slurry with a local agricultural contractor at the farm.
Gardaírecovered Mr Gaine’s dismembered remains from fields and a slurry tank. Gardaíreturned his remains to his family following the completion of a postmortem - and his funeral takes place today at Holy Cross Church in Kenmare. Murdered sheep farmer Michael Gaine has been remembered as a loving relative and proud Co 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. As the ceremony ends, Fr Hayes says: 'Before we go your separate ways let us take leave of our brother Michael. One day we shall joyfully greet Michael again when the love of Christ which conquers all things destroys even death itself.' Janice leads the family out of the church holding Michael’s urn in her arms, cradled in a sheepskin lined basket. The urn containing Mr Gaine's ashes which had been placed before the altar are sprinkled with Holy Water by Fr Hayes.
In his homily, celebrant Fr George Hayes said that it was important now to remember Michael Gaine for how he lived, not how he died. He said: 'Over the weeks since Michael went missing, we've asked so many questions, and in life, sometimes there are no answers. 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, and it is the dignity of Michael's life — and not the manner of Michael's death — that will abide in our hearts.' All those who took part in the search for Michael's body have been thanked for their work since Mr Gaine's disappearance, including the PSNI cadaver dog which helped discover his body. Fr George Hayes who celebrated the funeral mass is also thanked.
Norma Hanley (Neighbour and family friend): 'We thank you, Mike, for being a good neighbour, Always there to help, no matter the favour. We’ll miss our chats along the road, And how you’d pop in to fix things, new and old. You always greeted us with a smile, And gladly went that extra mile. In times of need, we could count on you — Just one quick call, and down you flew. Your rally skills were quite the bonus— With you around, there was no slowness. Our hearts are broken; life won't be the same, Taken too soon—with questions, grief, and pain. Rest in your palace, calm and bright, and we’ll do our best for Janice, day and night.
Maureen Finnegan (family friend): 'Though we need to weep your loss, you now dwell in that safe place in our hearts, where no storm or night or pain or evil can reach you. May this dark grief - flower with hope in every heart that loves you. Your days here were too brief. Let us not look for you only in memory, where we would feel lonely without you. You would want us to find you in presence - beside us when beauty brightens, when darkest winter has turned to Spring. May you continue to inspire us: to enter each day with a generous heart. To do what you would want us to do. To serve the call of courage and love and generosity, until we see you once again, in that land where there is no more separation, where'