Dear Frankie and Mary,
I met Frank and Mary for the first time in 2017/2018 in The Mitre , Hampton Court. We had a lovely afternoon together with all the cousins. I could immediately see in Frank, the Mc Carthy family resemblance, especially with my father. The gift of storytelling and talking was definitely evident, another Mc Carthy trait - talk your way out of a paper bag- as the saying goes. We loved when Aunt Peg - your mother came to Ireland on holidays. i can still hear her singing and dancing the 'Lambeth Walk' She spoke so lovingly of her children.
I remember Frank and Mary's kindness to my Mother and Father when they visited London, you drove them around and showed them all the sights. They were thrilled and talked and marvelled about it all for a long time after. They were struck with your knowledge, kindness and entertaining ways.
I'm sad Frank that you never made it back to the home country, particularly in later years but here's a little bit of Ireland for you and your loved ones. It's a poem by the late great Celtic poet John O' Donoghoe.
I think it may capture the essence of your loss for your beloved Frank.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis
Thinking of you at this very sad and difficult ime
Mary Michael & Phelan Family Eire
On the death of the Beloved
Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.
Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of colour.
The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.
Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.
Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete.
We look towards each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.
Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul's gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.
Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.
When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.
May you continue to inspire us:
To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.
John O'Donohue
Mary
4th March 2021