Brendan Grace, the Irish comedian best known for his role in Father Ted, was laid to rest in Dublin on Monday following his death at the age of 68. Thousands of fans, many wearing green, lined the streets as his coffin was carried from the Church of St Nicholas of Myra.
The three-hour ceremony was attended by numerous TV stars, including Mrs Brown's Boys creator Brendan O'Carroll and his wife Jenny Gibney. Eulogies were delivered by Grace's four children: Amanda, Melanie, Bradley, and Brendan. His son Brendan recalled his father's humour, describing him as 'the man who liked to wear as little clothing as possible while walking around the house with his phone clipped to his underwear.'
Father Brian Darcy told mourners: 'As long as a person's memory lives and as long as we live, Brendan Grace will never die.' He recounted a recent conversation with Grace, who was struggling to walk to the stage but said, 'They don't pay to hear about my illness, they come to forget about their own.'
Grace died peacefully on 11 July, surrounded by his wife Eileen and their children, after a battle with lung cancer. His family had announced his illness weeks earlier, noting he had been treated for pneumonia before the cancer diagnosis. His tour of Ireland was cancelled as a result.
Tributes poured in from across Ireland, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tweeting: '#RIP Brendan Grace, an Irish comedy legend. You made us laugh so many times.' Brendan O'Carroll also paid tribute, saying Grace 'opened doors for so many of us and leaves a legacy of love and laughter.'
