HUNDREDS of mourners from all walks of life across this great county and beyond were in attendance for the funeral Mass in Gort a’ Choirce yesterday of broadcasting legend Séamus Mac Géidigh.
Séamus was broadcaster and the much-loved manager of the RnaG northwest service in Donegal but he was much more than that. He was a voice for all.
Séamus was from An Ardaí Bheag in Gort a’ Choirce had been with RnaG since 1988.
Chief mourners at the funeral Mass in Christ the King were his beloved wife Dolores, and his children Éadaoin, Dónal agus Póilín.
Dúirt Kevin Bakhurst, Stiúrthóir Feidhmeach RTÉ: “Bhí ardmheas air mar iriseoir agus mar chraoltóir, agus aireoidh a chuid comhghleacaithe ar fud na heagraíochta seo uathu é”
Dúirt Jim Jennings, Ceannasaí Raidió RTÉ gur “cailliúint mhór do Raidió RTÉ agus do Raidió na Gaeltachta go háirithe, bás tobann Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh”
Edel Ní Chuireáin, Ceannaire RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, said he was ‘a man amongst men – a mentor and champion of his staff here in Doirí Beaga, a community leader, a talented broadcaster, a gifted commentator, a family man and a friend to us all here.
“This service will be all the poorer for his loss, as will the community in Donegal. He will be sadly and greatly missed. May he rest in peace. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Dolores, to his children Éadaoin, Dónal and Póilín, and to his relatives and friends.”
St Eunan’s footballer John Haran probably summed up best the feeling of club players across the county.
He wrote: “For half an hour, one Saturday in late February for the last 20 years or so I would tune into RTE Raidio Na Gaeltachta nervous as hell. Then Seamus Mac Geidigh would start in that beautiful Irish of his, uimhir a haon Ard An Ratha, uimhir a do An Termann, uimhir a trí Cill Charta, uimhir a ceithre Gaobh Dohhair, uimhir a cuig Naomh Conaill, uimhir a se Naomh Adhamhnain and so on until the 16 teams in the Donegal SFC had been called out.
“Then the draw would be made, some years were handy enough others were tough. Seamus was a great supporter of the club championship and RTE Raidio Na Gaeltachta were the sponsors for as long as I can remember and no doubt Seamus was the man driving this. In 2009 when St Eunan’s won an historic 3 SFC in a row Seamus was our guest of honour at our Dinner Dance such was the esteem he was held in. Donegal has lost a great son and Donegal club football has lost a great supporter. RIP Seamus.”
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