The burial of Patrick Bernard McDonald, affectionately referred to as Paddy and father to Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Féin leader, has ensued. His demise occurred at Caritas Nursing Home on Merrion Road on July 29th, having resided in Dalkey, Co Dublin. Prior to his retirement, Mr. McDonald was a builder by profession.
The funeral ceremony organised at Dublin’s Church of St Paul of the Cross, Mount Argus, witnessed the presence of numerous loved ones, members of the family, and Mary Lou’s political allies. It took place under the leadership of Father Joe Kennedy and Father Eugene McCarthy, with the former also serving as the chaplain to An Garda Siochána.
Father Kennedy reminded everyone in attendance of the deep involvement of Mr. McDonald’s sisters in church activities over the years. He emphasised the aptness of being gathered to bid their final farewells to Paddy. Furthermore, Father Kennedy mentioned that he had formerly conducted a similar ceremony for Maeve, Mr. McDonald’s eldest sister, post her demise in 2022. He also reminded the congregation of the passing of Mr. McDonald’s sister, Phyllis, in 2019.
The notification of Mr. McDonald’s passing on RIP.ie expressed that his beloved partner Shirley, along with sisters Nora and Joan, and his extended family and friends, are deeply mourning his loss.
Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Féin leader who is one among four siblings including sisters Bea and Joanne and brother Patrick, took to social media to announce her father’s passing and thanked everyone for their support and condolences during this difficult time. She expressed: “My father has passed. My family is grieving. We are profoundly thankful for the outpouring of love and support.”
During the ceremony, Mr. McDonald’s niece Tracy performed a scripture reading from Ecclesiastes, entitled “A Time for Everything”. Ms. McDonald also contributed a reading from St Paul’s letter to the Romans, beginning with “The life and death of each of us has its influence on others”.
Sinn Féin has risen to become the largest political party in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and local council following losses from the DUP. During an event, Father Kennedy expressed his concerns about several conflict-ridden areas across the globe, including Gaza and Ukraine, and showed particular worry about the unsettling conditions in Northern Ireland.
Gearóid, the son of Ms McDonald, entertained the attendees with music, performing the Scottish folk song ‘Caledonia’ on his guitar, and brilliantly concluded with the Beatles’ classic ‘Yesterday’, as the procession left the church.
Noted attendees included ex-Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, Minister for Infrastructure in the Northern Ireland Executive John O’Dowd, and Sinn Féin’s representatives Louise O’Reilly, Dessie Ellis, Verona Murphy, and Paul Gavan. Other significant attendees from the party and Ms McDonald’s circle included Ciarán Quinn, Richard McAuley, Dawn Doyle, Maria Doherty, Mike O’Brien, Anne O’Sullivan, and Eimear Ferguson.
The funeral procession concluded at the Victoria Chapel of Mount Jerome crematorium, where a short prayer ceremony was held prior to Mr McDonald’s cremation. In closing of the ceremony, attendees savoured the tune of Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’.