Fiona Gallagher, daughter of Jim 'Natch' Gallagher, paid a very fitting tribute with a moving eulogy at the funeral on Monday. Jim Gallagher was laid to rest in the Abbey cemetery on Monday last and here we reproduce, in full, the tribute paid by his daughter, Fiona, at the funeral Mass in the St. Patrick's, Ballyshannon.
Once again, and in less than 18 months, our family have been overwhelmed by the kindness of our neighbours and our friends. So many memories and stories come into my heart when I think about my father - over the last few days, perhaps, months, as his health was rapidly declining, the words of Dylan Thomas came to mind when he said:
"Do not go gently into that good night.
Old age should burn and rage at the close of day.
Rage, rage at the dying of the night."

My father loved living and since my mother died, I suppose he hadn't much to live for but he could still appreciate all aspects of life. Each morning last summer on his way to Mass he would stop at our front door to hear a bird whistle and he'd whistle back proclaiming it was a great day to be alive.
He was born in Ballyshannon and indeed never left it. Initially he worked in Miller's Garage as a car mechanic but most of his working life was with the Irish Life Insurance Company. Seamus Heaney celebrated the names of town lands in his poetry but we, too, in this area have just as lovely sounding place names - Legaltion, Doobally, Cloughbally, Lisahully, Cashelardall of these places my father would visit collecting insurance. There he would meet the loveliest of people, drinking tea with the women, playing football with the children and discussing the life of the land with the men.
Football was the fulcrum of my father's life and essentially it was the football played by and with Ballyshannon that was most important to him.
Indeed he won many accolades during his football playing and managing days. But it was the honours he won for his native town that were most important to him. The words of A.E. Housman come to mind:
The time you won your town the match
We cheered you thro' the market place
Man and boy stood cheering by
And home we brought you shoulder high
Today, the road all players come
Shoulder high we bring you home
And set you at your threshold down
Townsman of a stiller town.

When news of my father's death reached Diarmaid Keon, he rang my brother, Turlough, offering to cancel the U21 final played on Saturday. We said, don't cancel it, go out and win it - and win it they did. My father would have liked that.
I am not going to speak about my father as a player, mentor, manager or county selector. Neither am I going to recall his famous motivation speeches - those of you who heard them will know that none of those speeches could be retold here.
Instead I'll briefly recall memories of him as a supporter. Quite often, in fact it seemed to me all the time, videos of matches would be played on the TV at home.
The most watched games were those of Aodh Ruadh and no matter how often a particular match would be viewed, it always ended with the same comment - 'Ach, the referee is a Kilcar man.' Of course this had nothing to do with the fact that this was a match between Ballyshannon and yes, you've guessed it, Kilcar.
Some of you might remember a Mercedes making its way to county matches a few years ago.
This car was driven by PJ. Joe would be in the front seat and in the back were Anthony O'Malley Daly and my father - The Ambulance Crew.
Teams were picked on that journey to the matches; better teams were picked on the road home; songs were sung and somewhere along the way the rosary would be said - probably to make amends for conversations just had. Those were very happy days in my father's life and it is a consolation to know that PJ, Joe and recently Anthony, are all there up above - who knows there might even be some more matches to travel to in the great beyond.
My father was a great role model. He had many admirable qualities; he was loyal, passionate and committed. He worked hard every day and in the evenings he gave a lot of his time to the community, participating in all sorts of fund-raising and charitable activities.
He was courteous and kind, but whatever he did, he did it quietly and gently. If he observed anyone in need, he did what he could for them materially, but most especially heh simply spent time with them.
Those of you who know him, knew him to be a straight talking man; he shot from the hip and nobody was ever in any doubt what he thought - i know I never was - and I am quite sure many of you could say the same.
While my father was lucky enough to have many an interest and passion in his life - it was his wife Eithne McGinty from Donegal town who was the absolute love of his life. He told me that the moment he saw her he fell in love with her and that was 65 years ago.
The day she said she'd marry him he felt that he had grown wings and could fly back to Ballyshannon. As you know they were inseparable for the 53 years of their married life ... and it is fitting today that we bring him to Abbey Assaroe where he will take his place beside her.
Before I finish I would like to say a special word of thanks to all of you who were so kind to hold over the last year - those of you who visited him, our neighbours that were so vigilant. John, who accompanied him to Mass in Rossnowlagh each week; Lynda. I know you'd observe if he was up and about in the morning and Maureen, he trusted and depended on you so deeply.
The nurses in the Sheil Hospital, he was very content in the short while he was with you and you were so affectionate with him. The staff of Sligo Hospital but most especially the Renal nurses; we will never forget your kindness and compassion.
A huge thanks to all of you who helped out at the wake - all of you have been such great friends. Thanks also to the priests who celebrated Mass - faith was so important to my father.
Jim the Natch bids Adieu to Belashanny today - the town where he was bred and born.
Since my mother died, this town he loved so much was the kindly spot where everyone is known.
He was known and was greeted with such kindness and compassion in the months following his death.
The sentiment of Allingham's poem were certainly felt by him and we, his family, would like to thank you all for the kindly gentleness you gave him.
For him and for us, Ballyshannon will always be ... the kindly spot, the friendly town, where everyone is known.
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