‘A lovable rogue’ – Tadhg Furlong pays emotional tribute to his father at funeral mass

International rugby star Tadhg Furlong paid an emotional tribute to his father James at a packed funeral mass in Co Wexford on Saturday morning.

Tadhg recalled a larger than life character from the pulpit. He said his father – who he said was known as Suzie at New Ross Rugby Club – was a man of wit and humour, recalling his love of sport and first and foremost his deep love for his family.

Furlong described a ‘loveable rogue’, someone full of stories and life; someone ‘who danced to the sound of his own tune’.

He said his father had a big love for rugby.

“He generally had such a sharp eye and interest for the game. If you crossed paths with him, there aren’t many words I can say which describe him to you any better than the stories, memories or the things you’ve done with him throughout the years. To me my father was a larger-than-life character.

“A stoic man, a positive man, a man unbelievably comfortable in his own skin. He did so much for us and took such pride in us and all our pursuits. A man who brought Eoin and I up in the school of life, he was a real lovable rogue. If there was ever a backward route or tricky way of doing things, he’d find it. Be that by barter, favours or slipping you a stash of my training kits on the side.

“He was in full bloom after a few drinks, that glint in his eye and that hearty laugh. He was a pleasure to be around. He could hold court with the best of them and he could light up the room,” said Tadhg.

He continued: “Wherever I had gone, stories and yarns about him have always followed me. Father wasn’t always perfect, he had absolutely no idea what PC meant. He could cut you with his quick-wit and sharp comments, somehow he just always got away with it.

“His passing leaves a huge hole in our family’s lives. I think that’s only natural when a man of his personality passes. However, because of that very personality he is a husband, father and brother. He’s intertwined into all our hearts and all of our minds and the very being of the people he leaves behind.”

Tadhg’s brother Eoin read a short poem he wrote about his father’s life at Ballyvelig, Campile, thanking everyone for their support.

He reflected on the support the family have received in the week of their father’s death.

“Since Wednesday night when Daddy passed away, we as a family have been thrown over by the support we’ve received. From every corner of Ireland and beyond – all corners of the globe really. Over the past number of days some of our father’s old and newer friends, relatives and neighbours have given us unrivalled support.

“No task was too big and as daddy would have said “that shouldn’t be a problem”. My father was diagnosed with cancer this time last year and since then the staff of SVPH, Professor John Crown and Professor John Ryan, tried their very best to help him overcome his illness. However, despite their best efforts it wasn’t to be,” he said.

Both men received a sustained rounds of applause from the congregation after they spoke.

James passed away in St Vincent’s Dublin hospital on Tuesday night following an illness, bravely borne.

Prior to the service, the village of Campile and surrounding townslands turned out as James’s remains were brought through Campile village, where he once ran Furlong’s butcher shop. New Ross Rugby Club members stood as guards of honour as his remains were carried into the church by his sons and relatives.

Know locally as ‘Butcher’, James (64) battled cancer for around a year and throughout was supported by his family and medical teams.

Horeswood PP Fr Gerald O’Leary said people travelled from near and far to attend the wake and funeral, including from the world of rugby – with former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton among the mourners, there to support his former teammate.

Standing beside a Christmas tree, Fr O’Leary said James was: “A loving husband, father, brother, father-in-law, brother-in-law, nephew and friend. Death is always sad, no matter when it comes. But when it comes before it’s time – at the relatively young age of 64, it’s even more difficult.

“You could say that whenever someone we love dies, we die a little too. We know that life will never be exactly the same again; a familiar voice, a footstep, a smile, a shared memory has suddenly disappeared and cannot ever be recreated.

“It’s a heart-rending experience for you as a family, a shattering experience because the one you loved and still love has a place in your hearts and you can no longer find a place in his. In a sense a violence has been done to you because you’ve lost the place where you love to rest.”

He said James played a big part in his family and friend’s lives ‘and helped you to make you what you are today’.

“Always cherish those wonderful memories that you have with him. I’m sure that family and friends and neighbours and people who travelled to be with the Furlong family laughed and cried as they shared stories (over recent days).”

He said James trained as a butcher in the Co-op in Campile, where he went on to have his own shop, cold room and slaughterhouse. He then went on to work with Kavanagh’s in Enniscorthy, prior to turning his hand to farming.

“James was passionate about anything to do with sport. He played with Horeswood. The other night I met George O’Connor – one of our great hurling stars of a past era – and George was telling me he played football on the county team with James and he trained underage teams when the lads were young with Horeswood GAA Club. And of course his love of rugby, and of course I’m sure he passed on that love of sport and rugby to his two sons, Tadhg and Eoin.

“Today we offer our deepest sympathy to the family – especially to his wife, Margaret; sons Eoin and Tadhg; his sister Ann; daughter-in-law Áine; Eoin’s partner, Laura; his uncles Dick and John; aunts Kitty and Marie; brothers-in-law Danny, James and Tim; sister-in-law Mary; his many cousins and friends.”

Thanks were extended to the staff at St Vincent’s Hospital who treated James, and to his neighbours, family and friends for their tremendous support to the Furlong family over the past few days.

James was laid to rest afterwards with his parents in Horeswood cemetery, his coffin having been carried from the cemetery gate by the Furlong brothers and relatives.

Afterwards mourners sympathised with members of the Furlong family who lined the path to the grave.

James saw his son represent Ireland in this year’s Rugby World Cup in France last September and October, attending the South Africa game. He travelled to see Tadhg play against South Africa but wasn’t able to travel after that due to poor health.

Leinster Rugby issued the following statement about James following his passing: “Our thoughts are with Tadhg, his mother Margaret, brother Eoin and the wider Furlong family and their friends in New Ross RFC and beyond. James will be missed by all those that met him but it is those that knew him best that we think of today. Codladh sámh, James.”

The President of New Ross RFC, Brendan Roche issued the following statement on Wednesday afternoon on behalf of James’s old club: “It is with immense sadness that we mourn the passing of James (Suzie) Furlong an honorary life member of the club.

“A larger than life character, his contribution to the club as both a player and a coach was immense over a long number of years. We are very thankful for his invaluable contributions of knowledge over the years to the club. He attended as many matches as possible and took great interest in how players were progressing and would always offer encouragement.

“He was an out and out clubman and very proud of it. He also brought Eoin and Tadhg into club as young kids and enjoyed watching them play and look how that worked out. Off the field there was no shortage on entertainment, great stories and a few pints in the corner of the bar where he held court. His presence always lit up a room and you were guaranteed an evening of laughter and fun if you were lucky enough to be in his company.

“He will be very sadly missed by us all but especially by his family. We offer our deepest condolences to Margaret, Eoin, Tadhg and all the family on their sad loss.

Rest in Peace James – we will miss you.”

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