Dear Editor,
Human rights activist and artist Lucy Bhreatnach died on 1 October aged 82, followed two days later by her 85-year-old loving husband Deas?n Breatnach, M. Litt., journalist, poet, author and political, human rights and language activist.

Following the death of both our parents in one week, we have been inundated with hundreds of letters, calls, texts and emails of support and appreciation. They have come from journalists, writers, artists, musicians, poets, filmmakers, academics, political representatives, human rights activists, trade unionists and Irish language movement circles and from colleagues, neighbours, friends, doctors and nurses and complete strangers, from Ireland and abroad. We, the undersigned, wish to acknowledge and thank all those who gave us support during our recent bereavement.

We wish in particular to acknowledge the active support we received from our children, nieces and nephews, who themselves were also suffering the bereavement of two of their grandparents in one week (in some cases their only remaining living grandparents), and the support we received from our partners (and in some cases, ex-partners).

We also wish to express our gratitude to the following: the staff - from cleaners to consultants - of Blackrock Clinic, the Beacon, St. Vincent's, Tallaght, St Lukes, and St Michael's hospitals and to the Blackrock Hospice palliative team, and HSE District Nurses. We empathise with them in the difficulties they face with the current ban on recruitment etc. To Bradley's Pharmacy and to GP Dr Karl Kavanagh and his practice, to the carers and private home care, and their support teams all of whom provided professional, warm and flexible medical and/or personal care for one or both of our parents and to St Michael's Church, D?n Laoghaire and Our Lady of Victories Church, Sallynoggin we also extend our gratitude.

A special thanks goes to John Brophy, (NUJ Irl.,), to 'NUJ Extra' and 'Journalists' Charity', both in England.

We know that many more people wished to mourn with us and to celebrate the lives of our parents, but were unable to do so because of their own commitments or because of our inability to contact them in time because of the hastily organised arrangements.

This was particularly the case regarding our father who had donated his body for medical research, and whose body had to be delivered within 48 hours of his death to TCD.

The 'months mind' will take place on Friday 16 November, 2007 at Our Lady of Victories Church, Glenageary/Sallynoggin, Dún Laoghaire at 18.30.

A number of memorial events are being planned for the future, for which there will be adequate public notice.

We thank all those who presented floral tributes. We would ask anyone wishing to give flowers, to donate instead to either of the following charities: Amnesty International, The Motor Neurone Disease Association or the Irish Cancer Society.

Sinne le meas,
Diarmuid, Osgur, Caoilte, Ois?n, Lucilita and Cormac Breatnach

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment