Tom Niland, the Co Sligo bachelor who was severely injured following a burglary at his home in January 2022, was a “humble, gracious, gentle and kind man” who lived a “quiet and contented” life, his funeral mass has heard.
Fr Michael Gilroy told assembled mourners at St Adamnan’s Church, in Skreen, Co Sligo, on Thursday that the 75-year-old’s “peaceful and tranquil life” was “invaded” on the day of the burglary.
“That date has been imprinted on our minds ever since. For the last 21 months, we have missed his presence in this parish.
“Every time we pass his lovely home we get that sick feeling at the pit of our stomach. Time has passed but we have not forgotten Tom,” Fr Gilroy said.
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The priest said that news of Mr Niland’s death was met with “a profound sadness” in the local community, but also relief, his suffering is now over.
“All we wanted was for him to recover sufficiently to regain his independence, and to return to his home in our community ... sadly, that was not to be.”
Mr Niland died last week, having spent the last 20 months on life support at University Hospital Sligo following the incident at his home in Doonflynn, Skreen.
Fr Gilroy reserved special praise for the staff at the hospital. As Mr Niland’s body was taken from the hospital last week by undertakers, staff formed a guard of honour in a “moving and poignant” gesture.
Mr Niland was “a gifted farmer”, his funeral heard. Fr Gilroy said “there was a rhythm to Tom’s life that was closely linked to nature”.
He spent much of his life working on the farm of Gordon and Mary Kilgallen, with whom he shared a close relationship. “It was so much more than a job – it was a vocation.
“Tom loved working the land and tending to the livestock. He was close to nature, and I have no doubt appreciated the gifts of nature, that maybe most of us take for granted.”
Gifts offered at the altar represented different aspects of his life: flowers, car keys, a St Brigid’s Cross, a tin of biscuits, and a photo of his home, “of which he was so proud”.
Fr Gilroy praised the doctors and nurses who cared for Mr Niland over the 21 months he had spent in hospital.
He said the moving gesture by hospital staff, who lined the route from the hospital door to the road as Mr Niland’s body was being removed by local undertaker, Seán Sweeney, had touched the hearts of his family.
Mr Niland was laid to rest in St Mary’s cemetery in Skreen. Fr Gilroy said that just as Mr Niland had frequently volunteered to dig the graves of deceased neighbours “with such care and diligence”, many had volunteered to do the same for him this week.
Mr Niland, an only child, was predeceased by his parents, Roger and Molly.
Gardaí have charged three men in relation to the alleged aggravated burglary in January 2022.
