When a popular lollipop man was killed on St. Patrick’s Day by a rogue automobile, schoolchildren lined the streets of a town in County Donegal to watch him be brought to rest, reports Breaking News.
On Thursday morning, Anthony Gallagher was taken to his burial service at St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny, where sizable crowds gathered beneath the shimmering March weather.
Last Monday morning, St. Patrick’s Day, Anthony, who was in his 60s, died of his wounds in Letterkenny General Hospital, reports Breaking News.
Due to the severity of his injuries, his brother Martin, who is also in his 60s, was first sent to the same hospital before being flown to Galway University Hospital via rescue chopper.
He was supposed to watch his late brother’s funeral online from his hospital bed after undergoing severe surgery, but he is still aware, reports Breaking News.
Just before three in the morning on March 17, the tragedy happened as the brothers were heading back to their shared house at Charlie Daly Terrace in Letterkenny after spending the night out at a nearby pub.
Tragically, Anthony was a lollipop man for Donegal County Council, assisting youngsters in crossing a major road every morning. The location of the awful crash is unfortunately only 50 yards away, reports Breaking News.
After being detained and interrogated at Letterkenny Garda Station, the adolescent driver of the vehicle was freed without being charged, with a file being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
As a show of respect for the well-known local person, the town cancelled their St. Patrick’s Day parade after the tragedy sent shockwaves through the area.
On weekdays, Anthony was a regular sight at the bottom of Convent Road every morning as kids headed to nearby schools, according to the burial liturgy he attended, reports Breaking News.
“Every weekday morning, this was his habit: He rose to do his bit for the people of Letterkenny,” Fr Anthony Hartnett told mourners, reports Breaking News.
The casket was carried inside the church surrounded by four school crossing guards with their lollipop signs.
Students from Scoil Cholmcille formed a solemn guard of respect on Sentry Hill Road as it approached St. Eunan’s Cathedral, reports Breaking News.
As Anthony’s remains were transported from the Eternal Light Chapel of Rest, students from Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal and St. Eunan’s College followed suit.
A large number of people who knew him from his everyday work came to say goodbye for the last time, reports Breaking News.
At the funeral Mass, Anthony’s lollipop sign was placed next to the coffin in a moving manner.
Additionally, a Letterkenny heritage magazine and an Arsenal shirt were brought to the altar to symbolise his pride in being a Letterkenny native and his love of sports, respectively.
“Others were just happy to see Anthony coming,” Fr Hartnett said. “His virtue goes deeper still, known only to a select few, but the man we bury today devoted much of his time, energy and his pockets to his family, especially to his late mother Brigid – whose passing Anthony never forgot – and his late aunt Rosaleen,” reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
