Tributes paid to dad of Irish MEP Luke Ming Flanagan described as ‘true gent’ after his death
TRIBUTES have been paid to the father of Irish MEP Luke Ming Flanagan following his death.
A death notice for Luke Flanagan Senior said he "will be sadly missed by his loving family".
Luke Snr, or ‘Lukey Joe’ as he was fondly known in his native Castlerea Co Roscommon, had been described as “a hard-working man all his days”.
He sadly passed away yesterday at University Hospital Galway surrounded by his family.
The former carpenter will be laid to rest on Friday in Castlerea Cemetery following Requiem Mass at 11am in the local St. Patrick’s Church.
Tributes were paid to the Castlerea native on the RIP.ie website.
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One online contributor described Lukey Joe was “a true gent", adding: “Castlerea has lost one of its favourite sons”.
Recently on his personal website, MEP Luke Ming, spoke glowingly of both his parents and noted the sacrifices they had made in hard times in raising a large family.
He wrote: “I have a deep and abiding love for both my parents.
“I also have a massive respect for them both and a huge appreciation for the sacrifices they made in bringing up a large family on what back then were only very average wages.
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“What they had they made the most of and we never knew want in our house, at least not ‘want’ in how I understand it”.
A death notice for Luke Snr reads: "Predeceased by his wife Lily (née Coyne), parents Michael and Bridget and sister Nan.
"Luke will be sadly missed by his loving family, Michael (Frenchpark), Eamon (London), Ursula (Dublin), Fiona, Luke and David (Castlerea)."
It added that he will also be missed by "his cherished grandchildren Lisa, Alison, Ciara, Patrick, Oisin, Donnacha, Kevin, Isabelle, Katie, Saoirse, Lily, Matthew and Conor, daughters-in-law Pauline, Joanne, Judith and Suzanne, son-in-law Noel, sister-in-law Vera (Coyne), his wonderful neighbours, cousins, relatives and a wide circle of friends."
Large crowds are expected when the remains repose at Gaynor’s Funeral Home, Castlerea, tomorrow evening from 5pm to 7.30pm.
Mass of the Resurrection in St. Patrick’s Church at 11am on Friday followed by burial in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.