Doran, Harry
January 07, 2014Aged 56, Harry had experienced recent health problems. He had been due to undergo surgery in the near future. Harry was a man who never let up on the busy pace of life in his workplace, at leisure or as an active individual. He lived a full, meaningful and fruitful life and added value to countless people right to the end.
Harry was noted for the quality time he shared with all. Though his death was untimely for the survivors, in his brief span Harry lived many lifetimes. His sudden passing is felt most grievously by his brothers and sisters - Harry was considered the Doran family father figure, the family ambassador, the eternal old reliable to his eight sisters and three brothers. Each had a special and honest relationship with him.
Harry was not a pious person, yet he had a reverence and sacredness for the kingdom of God. He had a devotion to Christ and at all times was a witness to the Gospel by word, deed and humility. Harry was a person who possessed an innocence about him that was childlike. He was selfless, productive and practical, giving and sharing with a heart of gold that touched all. Harry was always available, ever ready and ever willing, with an abiding awareness that permeated his being all the time.
His profound spirituality was borne from his extensive experiences, which truly honed his profound understanding, perception and insights. In turn, he was abundantly rewarded with extensive knowledge, wide learning and acute wisdom. Harry was known as authentic, authoritative and genuine in all things.
He possessed a sharp intellect, a quick wit and a turn of phrase that left many speechless but impressed. Harry played down his achievements. In essence, he was very gifted, talented and exceptional. A fitter-welder by trade, Harry was employed for the past number of years by PB Machine Tech on Royal Oak Road, Begenalstown. His meticulous work ethic was one where he was noted for his effectiveness, efficiency and productivity. He produced consistent high-quality output, was dedicated and loyal, honest and hard-working and he was well known for his sense of humour and entertaining fellow workers at break times. There, too, he demonstrated a generosity of spirit, showing concern and compassion for his work colleagues and management at crucial times. Harry's co-workers provided a guard of honour at his funeral. This was a tear-jerking experience for the Doran family. Harry spoke so much about his work, his colleagues and his workplace that he regarded PB Technology clearly to be his second home.
Son of the late John and Kathleen (nee Brennan), Harry was third in a family of 12 children - eight girls and four boys - and is the first of his generation to pass away so unexpectedly. He was born into a talented musical family and was himself a versatile musician who was playing drums by the age of ten in the Doran family band The Foxhunters. The other band members were Harry's father John (vocals and accordion), grandfather Aidan Brennan, who was noted for his fine playing of traditional music, sisters Brigid (accordion and vocals) and Peggy (guitar and vocals).
A very fine singer, Harry played mouth organ, spoons, jew's harp, didgeridoo, drums and washboard kazoo.
The Foxhunters played in many venues down the years in counties Carlow, Wicklow, Wexford and Kilkenny. When he was on vocals, Harry's favourite numbers were 'The Merry Ploughboy' made famous by Johnny McEvoy, and Irish Soldier Laddie, recorded by Dublin balladeer Danny Doyle and written by Pat McGeegan, the late father of boxer Barry McGuigan. Both songs were from the late 1960s.
A genuine community man, Harry cut hedges, trimmed trees and mowed lawns both for the young and old in numerous communities. He had a compassionate nature and looked in regularly on senior citizens to check on their welfare. His trademark was always a bag of apples, rhubarb, eggs and so forth. In that regard, his death is a great loss to these people who will miss his sorely and who will always hold him in such high regard. Before his passing, Harry had already bought and parcelled up his Christmas presents for these people.
In his younger days, Harry was a noted Gaelic footballer and played with the Kilbride, Ballon and Fenagh clubs. And they provided guards of honour at his funeral venues - something for which the Doran family found very comforting, moving and supportive. The honouring of their colleague - a great team player and talented footballer - was outstanding, emotive and remarkable.
Harry's appearance was noted all over the place: he sported a beloved bandana, wore his blue working boiler suit and his work boots, in which he always felt so comfortable. Whatever the event - Sunday Mass, family get-togethers, visiting, work and so forth - Harry wore these items with pride and took such great care of them that the Doran family felt it would be the attire Harry would choose himself in which he would be buried. And so he was.
Harry had affiliation with three parishes - Myshall, Ballon and Fenagh - and all three were involved in his obsequies. He was waked in Kearney's Funeral Home, Fenagh on Monday 25 November before removal on the following day to the Church of the Holy Cross, where his remains were received by Fr Thomas O'Byrne, PP, Myshall. Harry's favourite hymn The Lord is my Shephard and other favourite music was played on the organ by Brian Grove.
Fr O'Byrne was chief celebrant at Harry's concelebrated funeral Mass on Wednesday 27 November. He was assisted in the ceremony by Fr Philip O'Shea, retired parish priest of Myshall, Fr Brendan Howard, PP, Ballon-Rathoe and former curate in Myshall and Fr Edward Whelan, retired PP, Ballon-Rathoe.
The family chose the reading, Responsorial Psalm, Gospel and composed both the Prayers of the Faithful and the eulogy. The reading was spoken by Elizabeth Lawlor (sister), and the Responsorial Psalm by his niece Erica Abbey. Prayers of the Faithful, incorporating the family eulogy, being recited by Peggy Doran (sister). The Offertory gifts were brought forward by Brigid Abbey (sister) and Shauna Bergin (niece).
The music throughout the Mass was played on the flute by his niece Isabel - entrance: The Lord is my Shepherd; Offertory, Amazing Grace; leaving the church: Danny Boy Isabel sang his favourite song, The Rose at Communion time.
Harry was devoted to his nieces and nephews. They loved him dearly. Harry's nieces all contributed to the compiling of the moving eulogy, read beautifully at his final funeral service by his nieces Colette Murphy and Helen Robinson. Afterwards, Harry was laid to rest with his parents in the Doran family plot at Ballon cemetery. The strains of Danny Boy echoed around the cemetery, welcoming Harry to the side of his parents, where many were in tears, as Harry was brought to his final resting place.
Harry is mourned by his brothers Pat, Martin, Noel, sisters Brigid, Peggy, Kathleen, Theresa, Geraldine, Pauline, Elizabeth, Frances, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, partners, by nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, grand-nieces, aunt, uncles, cousins, great neighbours, great friends far and wide, especially his beloved communities of Myshall, Ballon and Fenagh.
The Doran family thank all those who have given them so much comfort in their presence to them, in the provision of hospitality, particularly those people from St Oliver's Crescent, Myshall. They want to thank you all for your attendance at Kearney's Funeral Home, Fenagh; at the Church of the Holy Cross, Myshall and in Ballon Cemetery; at their various homes, for your chats, cups of tea, shared memories and reminiscences of Harry, who was always up for a challenge, was charismatic and a character second-to-none.
If Harry could have foreseen his funeral, no doubt he would have been overwhelmed by the attendance, the generosity of spirit, the levels of respect and esteem in which he was so rightly held and will always be. While Harry is reborn to his eternal home and is no longer visible to the family, he lives on it family DNA - a drum beat, a song, a joke, a thought, a feeling, the articles he made, his animals, a feather, a fish, a pheasant, resemblance in other family members. Harry lives on ad infintium.
Harry seemed an ordinary person who graced lives with truth, awareness and wakefulness. He led by example as a leader, model and benefactor. Harry lived an ordinary life, but one which has to be described as extraordinary in every way.
The Nationalist, 7th January 2014
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