Tears and laughter as veteran actress Leavy is laid to rest

THERE were tears and laughter at the funeral of veteran actress Pat Leavy on Saturday which was attended by the entire cast of Fair City, the popular RTÉ television soap in which she starred for 11 years.

Ms Leavy, 66, collapsed on set on Tuesday and died in hospital from kidney failure the next evening.

Friends and stars of television and stage remembered the much loved woman and professional colleague, who to hundreds of thousands of viewers was the matriarchal Hannah Finnegan in the long-running TV serial.

Veteran colleague Jim Bartley - better known as Bela Doyle in the soap - brought some humour to the sombre day as he recalled their 30-year friendship.

“She was a wonderful actress but above all she was a wonderful human being,” he said.

Her husband George was comforted by sons Gary and Alan and daughter Siobhan.

In an off-the-cuff speech, her elder son Alan told the congregation: “My mother received many ovations throughout her career. Would you do me the honour of giving her one, last standing ovation?”

As one they rose, and for over five minutes the crowded Church of the Holy Spirit in Ballyroan, south Dublin echoed to applause.

Later, Mr Bartley said: “Her sudden death has been very tough on all her family and friends but we were determined that she would have a wonderful farewell.”

Born in Belvedere Street, in the heart of Dublin, Ms Leavy married at 17 and began acting when in her 30s. Her first role was in Tom Murphy’s play, The Blue Macushla, on the Abbey stage in 1980. Her first television appearance was in 1977 in the popular rural serial The Riordans. She also appeared in a number of films, including The Commitments, Moll Flanders, The General, The Butcher Boy and This Is My Father.

Ms Levy was laid to rest in Mount Venus Cemetery.