The recent funeral of a west Cork man, found dead in his residence some six months later, served as a poignant reminder of his love for the arts, creativity, and nature. Mark Watters, aged 61, was a solitary individual who met his tragic end in his apartment in Courtyard, Castletownbere – a fate revealed when he was found on May 9th with an unopened card stamped December 18th on his property. The cause of his death, as inferred by the gardaí, was assumed to have been around Christmas, and following a postmortem, was confirmed to be due to natural causes.
Following the discovery, an inquest file was initiated by the officers and Mr Watters’ remains were turned over to his family. A memorial service was held in his honour at the Ringaskiddy Crematorium in Cork Harbour last week.
At the funeral, Mark’s son, Samudra, who resides in Vancouver, Canada, spoke emotionally about his last meeting with his father on November 15th of the previous year. He reminisced about spending two months in west Cork alongside his father, termed by him as “genuinely infectious”.
Their days were consumed by numerous heart-to-heart conversations, sharing cherished memories, and strengthening the bonds of their relationship. For Samudra, this open, emotional exchange represented the most profound closure he’d ever experienced.
Samudra also reflected on his father’s exceptional mind as he spoke to the congregated mourners, painting a vivid picture of a man with a unique worldview. Mark’s capacity to convert challenging situations into amusing instances, or to find comfort in the most dismal circumstances, was cited as a demonstration of his deep understanding of social dynamics and exceptional empathy.
According to Samudra, his father used logic and unique quirks to control his destiny. He was capable of navigating and exploring extraordinary realms through the right combination of words, deeds, and timing. However, such mental prowess came with a cost – alienation. Yet, Mark was willing to pay that price.
Samudra finished his tribute by stating that his father was his greatest inspiration, a source of innumerable experiences. He firmly believes that Mark Watters’ imprints will forever remain.
More than three decades ago, Mr Watters relocated from Dublin to the western Cork village of Allihies. He leaves behind his daughter Samudra, his three sisters; Virginia, Rosemary, and Elizabeth, alongside his cherished memories.
Elizabeth, one of his older sisters, recounted that Mr Watters was born on January 9th, 1963, amidst the infamous ‘big freeze’ winter in Oxford, England. Shortly after his birth, he was admitted to the hospital for a severe health condition, prompting the sisters to trudge through snowy paths and see their new sibling through a window.
Mr Watters was fondly remembered by Elizabeth as the cheeky toddler racing on his tricycle, the happy and playful youngster with a magnetic charm, the rebellious teen exploring his boundaries, and the young man passionate about playwriting, acting and creating successful film scripts.
Elizabeth characterised her brother as a devout art lover and a family-oriented man; his definition of family spread to anyone he held dear. He was a caring father to Samudra, a constant companion to his departed son Tiger, and deeply missed his daughter Grace.
“Mr Watters found solace in nature, mountains, and the sea, choosing the life of a hermit. His sisters could only offer their care from a distance. He now keeps a watchful eye over us from his peaceful and spiritual dwelling in the heavens, reunited with those who departed before him. Mark, you are dearly missed, and it’s with a heavy heart we say goodbye,” Elizabeth fondly expressed.
The memorial service ended on the soulful notes of Van Morrison’s ‘Into the Mystic’, with its last lines echoing: “And I wanna rock your gypsy soul/Just like way back in the days of old/And together we will float/ Into the mystic.”