Stars lend support to grieving actor

HOLLYWOOD stars mingled with mourners yesterday as actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers bid an emotional farewell to his beloved mother.

Geraldine “Geri” Meyers O’Keeffe died suddenly on Tuesday, aged 50.

Her famous son paid a moving tribute from the altar after her Requiem Mass in St Joseph’s Church in Glanmire, Co Cork.

“She was the best mother a son could have,” he said.

Jonathan, who had a very close relationship with her, spoke lovingly of her family ties to Cork; of her generosity and humour; of her love for her ex-husband; her partner and her family; and of her pride following the birth of her grandson Dylan.

He asked the congregation to stand and applaud her life — it was loud and sustained — and he himself was applauded afterwards.

Actor Colin Farrell and director Neil Jordan both embraced Jonathan after the simple ceremony.

Farrell, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie, hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek as his sister Claudine looked on.

The Dublin-born star of hit TV series, The Tudors, fought back tears before director Neil Jordan also held him close.

Farrell and Jordan were among hundreds of mourners who sympathised with Jonathan, his brothers Alan, Paul and Jamie, his sister Maria, and their father John O’Keeffe.

They joined with Geri’s neighbours as actress and author Pauline McLynn, along with The Tudor’s co-star Maria Doyle Kennedy and designer Lainey Keogh also offered their sympathies.

A team of security men used large black umbrellas to shield the star and his family from photographers as they arrived at the church and, later, as they shouldered the coffin to the hearse afterwards.

Looking clean-shaven and dressed in a dark navy suit, Jonathan clutched his girlfriend Reena Hammer’s hand as they walked past a carpet of bouquets on their way into the church.

Among those who sent floral tributes were actor Cillian Murphy, Hot Press, The Tudors production office and Hubbards Casting agency.

Reverend Dr Noel O’Sullivan told the grieving family that Geri will look after them from beyond the grave.

“In the weeks and months ahead, no matter where you are in the world, you can turn to her and say look: ‘You know what’s on my mind, look after me.’ We are all imperfect actors on the stage of life,” he said.

Comparing life to a stage and quoting Shakespeare’s character Jack in As You Like It, Rev O’Sullivan said: “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women are merely players.

“They have their exits and their entrances, each man in his time plays many parts.

“When we’re born, that’s our entrance on to the stage of life. When we die, that’s our exit.

“In between, we play many parts — some happy, some sad, some good, some bad, some very public and some very private, then we go off.

“But, of course, the image is also very limited.

“When the play ends, the actors go off in to the wings and into the green room and the curtain comes down and the play is over.

“But on the stage of life, that’s not what happens, it’s not over when we exit. It’s not over when the curtain comes down on our human life.

“What happens when we die, when we exit the stage of life, is that we go in to a new life that will last forever — a fuller life, a happier life.

“Human existence on earth is like a prologue to a life that begins when we die.”

He described Geri as loving, caring thoughtful and generous, as someone who had enriched many peoples’ lives.

Friends, he said, had described her as a woman with a heart of gold — a small woman with a big heart.

“Her pride of joy was her family, in more recent years her grandson son,” he said.

“She was involved in the wider community, the Penny Dinners, the parents’ association of the North Monastery secondary school and she also gathered clothes for charity. She was a woman who cared for people.”

He also paid tribute to her keen intelligence and great sense of humour.

“Those things are very consoling. We are not only praying for her today but celebrating her life,” he said.

In a reference to the large posse of photographers outside the church, Rev O’Sullivan said: “I’m sure she is looking down and is intrigued by the little foray outside the church this morning.

“We rejoice with her as she goes off the stage of life where we have known her.”

Her remains were buried in St Catherine’s Cemetery in nearby Kilcully afterwards.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ tribute to his mother:

“MY mother, she started life here in Cork. She was born to Margaret Field and William Meyers. She had an older brother Michael, a younger sister Imelda. She was the mother of five children, four sons and one daughter.

“My mother was a happy woman, a humorous woman — very intelligent, very polite, very sweet, and the best mother a son could have.

“She worked in Guys Printing in Cork, through which she met my father John O’Keeffe.

“They married and remained close and in touch for the rest of their lives.

“The pride she felt at the birth of her grandson Dylan was insurmountable. He was the biggest joy in her existence. The finding of her life partner, John O’Neill, meant the world to my mother and they meant the world to each other — they always will.

“Usually at this time you have a moment of silence. My brothers and I discussed this yesterday, and my mother really didn’t like silence. So I’d like you all to stand if you would, and if you wouldn’t mind, please give her a round of applause for her life.

“Once more, thank you for being here and God bless you all.”