Mourners hear Hugh Wallace’s life story told in his own words at emotional Dublin funeral
The funeral Mass of the late TV presenter Hugh Wallace, who died suddenly on Monday, heard about his poignant life story read “as though it was he himself saying the words.”
The well-known, award-winning architect was laid to rest on Friday after a heartfelt service held by his husband and friends for the star.
The funeral of the 68-year-old took place at 11am at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, where he was baptised as a child.
It was attended by his “adored husband and soulmate Martin” as well as his family and friends.
The packed service was overseen by the Dean of the Cathedral, Dr William Morton.
In a unique reading, close friend John Walters addressed the congregation, saying: “Hugh Wallace had very strong words to say all the time and that he always offered those words whether asked to or not.
“So, he wants to speak to you all one more time today because he went so quickly.
“If you would bear with me, the viewer is going to tell you a story, and I'm just going to be the mouthpiece for that story, so it'll be Hugh you'll be hearing.”
Gathering himself, Walters said: “I'm afraid I went, I was taken by complete surprise on Sunday.
“I didn't think I'd get a sudden exit; I had assumed a more flamboyant exit."
He said things had been going well in Wallace’s life, noting that his business Douglas Wallace Consultants “was flying, my TV career was flying and Martin and I were just about to move, the furniture was coming for the house that Martin and I had been working on for three years, and we were to move in this weekend.”
He said the “universe took its own decision and here we all are.”
The congregation heard that his career began in 1956, while tributes were paid to his parents Kenneth and Susan Wallace.
“They did a wonderful job for me” the Mass heard. “Martin has often accused me of having only child syndrome, and I take that as meaning I'm a special person.
He said he knew he wanted to be a designer and work in architecture when he met his friend Alan Douglas in 1982.
They became clients of the former retailer A Wear and began to take a serious look at retail design.
“And shortly, they say, we became the darling of Irish retail design. We started to do shops and restaurants and everything like that, and we had a name.
“A jealous competitor was heard to say at one stage about us that, A wear, gay wear, Douglas Wallace will be there, you know?
“And we were rewarded for that by getting the big contract of moving Brown Thomas from one side of the street in Grafton Street to the other and its migration into the Switzer's building.
“There was ups, there was downs, there was tears, there was laughter, there was building of lifetime friendships” as well as “handbags at dawn.”
Following successful years, the crash in 2008 hit and “we all fell off a cliff.”
But out of the ashes came Douglas Wallace Consultants, “a new gang of tightly knit directors of which I am pleased to say I was still part — we were older and we were wiser.”
He said he was delighted to become part of RTÉ and thanked Animo Productions and Shinawil for giving him the opportunity to be on screen as a presenter.
“It was such a shock to me that that came at that age, but I really embraced it as you all know,” he explained.
He described his partner as his “best friend” and said they met in the famous Dublin bar The George.
“Martin and I were part of a fairy tale” he said speaking of their first meeting on Valentine’s night in 1988.
“We lasted together for 37 years, which I'd take again if I could. Martin never really bought into the celebrity stuff.
“Martin loved me for me. He became my civil partner in 2012, and he stuck with me to the end, right up until Sunday night.
“Behind the celebrity and the public persona, Martin and I were really two ordinary guys.”
He finished his story with a quote from William Shakespeare, written in 1595, which he said he used throughout his life.
“These words are very important to me, and they've given me great comfort in my darkest hours,” he explained.
They are: “Let thee all remember that a pop of colour will brighten your day.”
Throughout the service, some of Hugh’s favourite songs were played, including Judy Garland’s and Frank Sinatra’s .
Dean Morton concluded the service by saying: “For the last 10 years, since beginning with the series , television viewers were delighted to welcome Hugh into their living rooms.
“He was, as we say, a natural, with his characteristic voice, his large spectacles, colourful shirts, and jumpers.”
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