‘Sad, poignant, apt and suitable that Richard died in Bantry Bay’

AN able seaman who had a passion for nature, the heritage of the Beara peninsula and people.

Celebrating his memorial service Canon Paul Willoughby said it was “sad, poignant, apt and suitable” that Richard Harman had met his end in Bantry Bay.

For that was where St Brendan had contemplated his journey to the New World.

Canon Willoughby, in the Church of Ireland service, paid a heartfelt tribute to a man he called learned, passionate, erudite and beautifully attired.

Richard, who was set to celebrate his 70th birthday on September 14, attended Bandon Grammar School as a young man, and far from being shy and retiring like many Church of Ireland people in those times, he was gregarious, outgoing and a wonderful character, the canon said.

He loved to write letters, recount stories and was full of Celtic wisdom.

The canon urged the large congregation, spilling out into the churchyard, to honour his memory by enjoying the real riches of life – nature and simple pleasures – as Mr Harman did.

Cllr Noel Harrington also paid tribute to the Glengarriff man. He said fate had played a hard hand, taking him away less than a month before he, his family and community would celebrate his 70th birthday.

Mr Harman was a “cornerstone of the community” who loved angling, horses and politics – but most of all he loved spending time with people.

He would regale friends and visitors alike with his stories, poems and cúpla focal, and was at one with the land he loved – the lakes, woods, river and seas.

Mr Harrington said it was not unusual for Richard to take off “enthusiastically” for a day’s fishing like he had last Monday.

He sympathised with his family and the families of the others who died with him and said he could picture him reunited with his people and happily spinning a yarn or two.

Mr Harman was laid to rest yesterday in the old cemetery of Adrigole, where seven generations of his family were laid to rest before him.