A 'lollipop man' who sadly died on St Patrick's Day after he and his brother were both struck by a runaway car was laid to rest on Thursday in Co Donegal.
Mourners were told of Anthony Gallagher's "generosity and caring" nature during a funeral Mass at St Eunan's Cathedral in Letterkenny. There were prayers for his brother Martin, who was airlifted from the scene of the collision to hospital in Galway, who was said to be watching the Requiem Mass from hospital.
The brothers, who were both in their 60s, were mowed down as they walked home from a night out in Letterkenny in the early hours of St Patrick's Day.
Read more: St Patrick's Day parade cancelled after Donegal crash claims life of male pedestrian
The tragedy forced the cancellation of a St Patrick's Day parade which had been scheduled to take place. A teenager suspected of driving a taxi which hit the two men just before 3am was arrested a short time afterwards. He has since been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP and the Garda Youth Diversion Programme.
A Garda spokesperson said their investigations into the incident continue.
Schoolchildren lined the street as Mr Gallagher's funeral cortege made its way to St Eunan's Cathedral on Thursday.
Fr Anthony Hartnett, addressing mourners, said: "Sincere condolences to everyone here and especially to his family here present, but especially to Martin who is uniting to us in prayer this morning using the webcam from Galway. Martin, in as much as you are able, I invite you to join us in prayer today.
"No doubt, this day is hard for you but know of our prayers for you and our solidarity with you in this hour of anguish. We pray together as one people, one family in Christ. I express also, on behalf of the parish, condolences to his tight knit group of friends for whom Anthony was a brother, and to all his extended family relations, friends and neighbours."
Symbols of his life, including the 'lollipop' stick he used to guide children safely across the road, an Arsenal shirt, and a Letterkenny Heritage magazine were placed inside the Co Donegal cathedral on Thursday for the funeral.
In a moving homily, Fr Hartnett said: "When people these days struggle to stick at something for a year, Anthony managed to do it for 20. Every weekday morning, this was his habit. He rose to do his bit for the people of Letterkenny, just out there at the bottom of the back road, helping to make sure the boys and girls could get to school safely, lollipop stick in hand.
"Others among us knew him as the brother of Martin, or Marty, two brothers who made a virtue of brotherhood - such was their commitment to one another."
He added: "The man we bury today devoted much of his time, his energy, even his pockets, to his family - especially to his late mother Bridget whose passing Anthony never forgot, and to his late aunt Rosaleen. To them, he was especially devoted. His generosity and his caring, for his family and friends is both a precious memory now and a pledge of his love for those God entrusted to his care. In God, this does not come to an end, for love is stronger than death. The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God. No torment will ever touch them. With Rosaleen and Bridget, we pray that God will take pity on his humble servant Anthony - the salt of the earth as he was described."
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