Eamon Farrell, father of renowned Irish actor Colin Farrell, passed away at the age of 83, this week and was buried in Dublin today.
The sad news follows Eamon’s battle with a prolonged illness. His death was confirmed in a public notice shared on Wednesday.
The announcement stated that the former Shamrock Rovers footballer “passed peacefully, after a long illness bravely borne, in the loving care of his family and the excellent staff of the Whitworth Ward. Beloved husband of Eileen, loving father of Eamon, Catherine, Claudine and Colin and beloved brother of the late Tommy, Maureen and Sean,” reports The Mirror.
It went on to say: “Sadly missed by Rita, step-children William, Keith, Sandra, Aidan, Deborah, Karl, Ciarán and Gary, grandchildren James, Ellen, Henry, Stella and Oscar, in-laws and partners, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.”
Colin, star of The Banshees of Inisherin, has spoken fondly in the past about growing up with his cherished father, saying: “I was the baby, so I got away with more. My parents weren’t as hawkeyed with me and I think my older brother got the brunt of it and my sisters a little less,” reports The Mirror.
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He added: “They will all tell you I had the easiest time, but I don’t think it was because I was the favourite, I think just as a result of my parents’ fatigue!”
He also reflected on his father’s earlier life as a footballer in the 1960s before he moved on to a range of different jobs. “Dad played football till he was 26 or 27,” he said, reports The Mirror.
“After that he owned a fish-and-chip shop by a golf course, The Little Chip Inn. Honest to God. He never let us forget the wit of that. Then he had a restaurant. He has a health-food store in Dublin called Down To Earth.”
Among the many tributes paid to Eamon was a heartfelt message from Shamrock Rovers’ official Instagram account. The club shared a black-and-white photo of him in his team kit with the message: “The death has occurred of former Rovers player Eamon Farrell.
“Eamon joined Rovers in 1960 at 18 years of age from the famous schoolboy nursery club Home Farm. A half back who was a minor and schoolboy Ireland international, Eamonn played alongside his older brother Tommy during his time at Milltown, reports The Mirror.
“Both were on the team that beat Shelbourne in the FAI Cup final in 1962 played in front of an attendance of 32,000.”
The tribute concluded with an Irish phrase, which translates to “May his soul be at God’s right hand.”
Supporters left heartfelt responses under the post, with many sharing traditional Irish expressions of sympathy and posting green heart emojis in his memory, reports The Mirror.
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