The sole survivor of a fishing tragedy that claimed three lives led today’s funeral parade in Glengarriff, west Cork.
Ed Dziato (46) acted as lead pallbearer as he shouldered the coffin of Wolfgang ‘Mike’ Schmidt (70), from the Church of the Sacred Heart.
The remains of Wolfgang Schroder (62) were carried alongside those of Mr Schmidt into the church.
The brothers and sons of Richard Harman, the third man who lost his life in last week’s accident, were among the 150 mourners who paid their respects at the double funeral ceremony.
The three men died off the west Cork coast after a fire broke out on their motor cruiser off Roancarraig Lighthouse by Berehaven Bay last Monday evening.
Fr Pádraig Kennelly told mourners the accident was a tragedy for the area.
“They were four friends who got together for a day of fishing, jokes and fun, to be out at sea and to be free,” Fr Kennelly said.
He told mourners that Mr Schmidt, known as ‘Mike’, had joined the merchant navy at age 14. He had excelled at his chosen career to become a master mariner, and spent 45 years of his life at sea.
Fr Kennelly said Mr Schroder, who lived at Saskia in Bantry, had chosen a seafaring path at an early age. “Wolfgang had dreamed of being a seaman since growing up in a small village in northern Germany. He achieved his dream,” Fr Kennelly said.
“The sea can be a great friend, but it can also be a devastating enemy. Just as it gives life, it takes life away and here in west Cork we are no strangers to such tragedy,” he said. “The pain is heartbreaking. Our community here will be a poorer place without Mike, Wolfgang and Richard, may they rest in peace.”.
Family members cried as local musician John Coakley played The Lonesome Boatman on the tin whistle. A picture of each man, together with a book of condolences, rested on a table next to the caskets on the altar.
The two men were to be cremated following the funeral ceremony.
Mr Harman was buried in Bantry on Friday.