NEATLY DRESSED in the Swinford GAA colours – black suits with red ties – former club teammates of Garda Robert McCallion took turns to carry his coffin to their local parish church yesterday evening.
Many had tears in their eyes as the cortege wound its way through the streets of Swinford, Co Mayo, to the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, where the curate, Fr Derek Gormley, was waiting to receive the remains.
The community turned out for the removal of the remains of the 29-year-old officer who died from injuries he received when hit by a stolen car in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, more than two weeks ago.
So great was the turnout that the remains did not arrive at the parish church, which is situated on slight hill on the western edge of the town, until well after the appointed time of 8pm.
Leading the cortege were Garda McCallion’s parents, Bob and Nancy; his brother, John, who is also a garda; sisters Noreen and Deirdre and his girlfriend, Maria O’Donnell.
The remains had reposed in the McCallion family home at nearby Park Road since Friday evening.
According to family friends, thousands of mourners had visited the bungalow between Friday and Sunday to pay their respects to the bereaved family.
At the church, Fr Gormley, who was joined by Swinford parish priest Canon Michael Joyce and a number of other clergy, spoke of the great cloud that had descended on the McCallion family and on the entire community.
Garda McCallion was a member of the Swinford GAA Club and regularly made the long trip home from Letterkenny, his Garda base, for training.
More than 600 gardaí of all ranks are due to attend today’s funeral.
Special parking facilities for the funeral ceremonies are being provided at the old NCF Mart, the industrial estate and the community centre.
A special shuttle bus was running from all the designated areas for those wanting to travel to the church.
Two members of the hierarchy, Bishop Philip Boyce of Raphoe and Bishop Brendan Kelly of Achonry, will attend today’s funeral.
Since Garda McCallion’s death in Beaumont Hospital, in Dublin, last week, thousands of people have signed the books of condolence, which were opened in Letterkenny and Swinford Garda stations, and in Ballina, Co Mayo, where the garda’s brother, John, is stationed.
Locals in Swinford were recalling last night that the latest Garda funeral comes almost a year to the day after the death of another local garda, Jimmy Reddington, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in Co Tipperary.
Garda Reddington was off duty at the time of the accident.
Garda McCallion will be laid to rest in Kilconduff Cemetery, Swinford, today following requiem Mass at 1pm.