Aidan Moffitt was a character who lived life to the full and always put family and friends first, mourners at his funeral heard on Monday.
Fr Michael McManus, a close family friend and the main celebrant at the funeral Mass, appealed to those who were mourning not to “let the manner of his death be the lasting memory of Aidan”, a man who another friend, Martin McMahon, remembered as “always smiling”.
The crowd who attended Monday’s ceremony at the Christ the King church in Lisacul, Co Roscommon, heard about the local man’s many interests: his love of Roscommon GAA, his passion for horse racing, his interest in politics, which he inherited from his late father Tom, his successes in business and above all his devotion to his family, especially his mother Kathleen.
Fr McManus said there were no words to describe the grief being endured by the Roscommon man’s family and many friends.
He had a special word for the family of Sligo man Michael Snee, who like Mr Moffitt was found in Sligo last week after having died in violent circumstances, saying he hoped they too were experiencing the solidarity and support being extended to the Moffitt family
Recalling that moment a week ago when he got a call from Aidan’s brother Christy saying that Aidan was dead, Fr McManus said: “I was left in a state of shock just like the rest of the country.”
“Words fail at this time and yet all we have are words to show sorrow and support,” he added.
Among those who packed into the Lisacul church to show support to the Moffitt family was aide de camp Cmdt Claire Mortimer, representing the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
‘Kindness’
In an affectionate eulogy, Martin McMahon said the word that shone through in any reciting of Mr Moffitt’s life was “kindness”, which was most evident in his devotion to his mother Kathleen and his family.
While “our hearts are broken”, Mr McMahon said those who had been lucky enough to know this man “who made the world a better place” had been enriched .
His friend also recalled the “shrewd businessman” who travelled throughout the country for his work, but invariably returned home to Kathleen, knowing how much this meant to her.
“He made sure she wanted for nothing,” added Mr McMahon.
There were several references throughout the Mass to Mr Moffitt’s love of family, which also included his sister Sharon, brothers Christy and Gerard, his niece Laura, and nephews Keith and Daniel.
Mr McMahon recalled many of the high points of his friend’s life, his successes as a Fine Gael activist, his jubilation when the Roscommon county team were recently promoted to Division One, and his joy when Ashjan, a horse he co-owned as part of the Real Deal syndicate, won at Downpatrick in 2017. “Amazingly Ashjan won at Carlisle last Saturday,” Mr McMahon pointed out.
He said that Mr Moffitt’s friends and loved ones had found it comforting in recent days to be able to spend time with him, “to sit with him, to see him at peace and resting, and recount numerous escapades” in places at home and abroad.
“He would talk to anyone. We all knew that,” mourners heard.
Recalling his friend’s “love for his country” and how he used politics to improve the lives of others, Mr McMahon said: “He wanted things to be better for people and he wanted to get things done.”
Collins pin
Mourners heard that Aidan, who had held many senior positions in Fine Gael, had been an admirer of Michael Collins and had been presented with a special limited edition commemorative pin by the party to mark the centenary of Collins’s death.
During the ceremony Mr Moffitt’s sister Sharon and brothers Christy and Gerard lit three candles in memory of him and his late brother Anthony and his father Tom.
Mr Mahon said Aidan had inherited his interest in horses from his father and how father and son had been “like two peas in a pod” travelling to marts and horse fairs together when Aidan was a child.
A photo of the pair getting ready to go to the Ballinasloe horse fair was displayed during the livestream of the funeral Mass, showing Tom teaching the beaming child how to close a deal by slapping hands. “The smile on his face is how we will always remember Aidan,” said Mr McMahon.
Fr McManus said that Aidan had been a man of faith and had gone to Knock Shrine with his mother every Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve to pray for blessings.
Symbols
Symbols of Aidan’s life presented by members of his family highlighted his many interests.
They included the Roscommon county colours, an auctioneer’s mallet and a briefcase, jockey’s silks worn when Ashjan won in Downpatrick, a statue of Mary representing Aidan’s faith, and a family crest.
In a message of condolence read during the Mass, Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran told the mourners he understood what a particularly painful week it had been for them, losing Aidan so suddenly and in such a public way. “The death of someone you love is never easy,” he said.
Noting the Fine Gael activist’s interest in politics, the bishop said: “Not everybody is willing to make those sacrifices. We can be thankful for the gifts that Aidan shared in this and in so many other ways.”
Friends from the world of politics who attended the funeral included Minister of State Frank Feighan, whose election campaigns Aidan had worked on, and Fine Gael Senator Aisling Dolan.
