Home pays homage to man of culture Harris

HELLRAISER, poet, actor, sportsman and singer — the colourful life of Richard Harris was remembered fondly at the weekend as Limerick said farewell to its favourite son.

Film producer Noel Pearson and brother Billy Harris led the tributes as hundreds packed into the Church of the Sacred Heart for a memorial mass to the 72-year-old who died from cancer on October 25.

“He was a multi-talented person. Not only was he a wonderful actor, he was also a great poet and the complete artist,” said Billy Harris. “He will certainly be remembered as one of the most colourful actors of his generation,’’ said Billy, who played rugby with Garryowen in the 1960s.

The ashes of rugby fanatic ‘Dickie’, as he was affectionately known in his native city, were scattered in the Bahamas. But Limerick is where the memories are strongest.

Among the mourners were Harris’ first wife, Elizabeth, son, Jared, brothers, Ivan, Noel and Billy and granddaughter Ella.

Elizabeth described the memorial mass as “very moving, very friendly, full of love and a very fitting tribute’’.

In a special tribute, film and theatre producer Noel Pearson described him as “a circus of a man’’ who made an amazing 80 films, wrote poetry and had two number one hit records during his distinguished career.

“Many times we have read about the always colourful and hellraiser Richard Harris, but behind this man was an amazing life spanning five decades. His generosity and good humour were quite extraordinary,’’ he said.

Harris, who had a huge passion for rugby, was also remembered by members of Young Munster Rugby Club of which he was a life-member, and Garryowen RFC with whom he won a Munster Senior Cup medal in 1951-52.

Fr Tommy Byrne, a close friend of the Harris family, said in his homily: “He was very nostalgic and used to constantly come back home. When Limerick was criticised, he would stand up for the city.

“He was delighted to see Munster and Ireland doing so well on the rugby field. He loved his acting profession and film-making and really enjoyed the work.’’

Harris starred in many classic films of his generation, including A Man Called Horse, The Guns of Navarone, Mutiny On The Bounty, The Sporting Life as well as Gladiator and the Harry Potter films.

He is probably best remembered for his portrayal of ‘The Bull McCabe’ in the screen adaptation of John B Keane’s play The Field, for which he won an Oscar nomination.

Other mourners included former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds; the Mayor of Limerick, Cllr John Cronin and Minister of State Tim O’Malley.

Mr Reynolds suggested Limerick should erect a bronze statute to the memory of Richard Harris, whom he described as a “world famous Limerickman and Irishman who takes his place beside Daniel O’Connell’’.

He said Harris was an “outstanding actor, singer and poet’’ and an extremely loyal friend and a very charitable man.