The Late Mairtin McGrath He had a voice that lifted the dark of winter in a small schoolhouse far west in Connemara. Mairtin McGrath was a lovely singer. He was gifted with a velvet voice alongside an easy manner. And it all came together on the stage in Glynsk School when Christmas was on our doorsteps. It was concert time and it was another time and there are no videos or recordings. For those who went with Mairtin to his final resting place in Moyrus cemetery down by the side of Bertraghboy Bay on Tuesday have only the memories. He sang "The Turfman from Ardee" - it was his signature tune. "For the sake of health I took a walk last week at early dawn" And then he would paint great pictures of the far away American West when he sang - "There's a rainbow on the Rio Colorado, There's a haze around a western Texas home, Someone waits beside the Rio Colorado, For I promised I'd be back to Texas soon." Mairtin sang the songs and acted his parts on stage in an unhurried and easy way - it was the same way he played football. A stylish and talented footballer almost strolling past the defenders as he went toe-to-hand down the left wing - his head of red hair standing out on the fields of Connemara. The Galway minor selectors were interested. But maybe Mairtin was not as interested as they were. His style of play and singing would not be rushed in some flurry of activity. His father had introduced him to sport and music and an interest in the world and in the community at an early stage. Along with his father the late Coilin McGrath - Mairtin took part in the folklore and storytelling events organised by the Galway VEC at the time. They were known as the Scoileanna Eigse agus Seanachais in the Connemara Gaeltacht. Father and son won many prizes in competitions such as "Agallaimh Beirte". The McGrath home in Glynsk was a virtual parliament of discussion on politics, sport and all events locally and further away. Some days before his death at 53 last weekend following a long battle with illness Mairtin was still full of interest in the world. It was a world that he was fully involved in until two years ago. He drove the road to and from Galway, working in later times with O'Malley Construction until illness hit him. Even in his illness, he began to do some work again around the home that he had carved from the mountain land in his native Glynsk. Death came to claim him at an early age. Thc sympathy of the whole community goes out to his wife Ann, his son Conor and his daughter Dymphna. Mairtin is also survived by his sisters May (Corrandulla) and Kitty (England) and by his brothers Hubert (Glynsk) and Padraig (Galway) and nieces, nephews and relatives. Mairtin's mother, Kate has now moved on in years and does not remember much of the life and times that have gone before. But those who knew Kate remember her in her better days they remember her generosity and her warmth of spirit in times past. Her son Mairtin who was laid to rest on Tuesday of this week was one good and decent man. Suaimhneas do anois le cois na mara. Courtesy of the Connacht Tribune 21 March 2008 Tweet

Most Read Stories