Master Fran Well brewer who died in Cork house fire remembered as a gentleman

Peter Lyall, who died in a house fire in Cork last week. 

The master brewer who died in a house fire in Cork last week found the right mix of ingredients in life, and like his award-winning beers, he took the time to blend them into something special that will last long beyond him, his funeral Mass was told on Monday.

Peter Lyall, the long-serving master brewer at the city’s Franciscan Well pub and a respected coach with Fr Matthew's basketball club, died in a fire in his home in the Ardcullen area of Hollyhill on the city's northside early last Monday morning. His partner, Anna, survived.

His funeral Mass was celebrated at St Mary’s on the Hill on Monday, where his good friend, Shane Long, who co-founded the Franciscan Well, paid tribute to a man he said “didn’t follow the norm”.

“He would be giving out about what all the fuss is about [this morning],” Mr Long said.

“He never claimed credit for anything. There are several people in here that he [did] favours for. The only people who ever knew that was the person he did the favour for and himself.

“One of the beers he was instrumental in producing was Sunbeam. And he never took credit for that. But it will be in the [Franciscan] Well today. And when everybody else is gone from here, his beer will still be there. A lasting memory for the amazing man he was.” 

Among the gifts brought to the altar to symbolise his passions in life were a basketball, his favourite mug for drinking litres of tea, his glasses, and a packet of Taytos and Coca-Cola.

His grandchildren also paid moving tributes from the altar.

Chanice said Mr Lyall would always "go above and beyond" to ensure they were ok.

“One of the last things Peter said to me was ‘Chanice I am so proud of you’ and I will carry that in my heart forever,” she said.

Kia said Mr Lyall always made her feel safe and loved. “Peter always knew the answer to every question I asked. And there were a lot. To me you were a magical giant and I will love you forever," she said.

And Paul said Mr Lyall was more than a grandfather. “You made me feel so safe. Love radiated from you. Your laugh could be heard across a room and maybe even through the walls. 

"As a child, I remember thinking you were a giant and I would hold your hand and feel so huge. Now we are faced with such a huge loss, but I know you will be watching over us. We will always think of you."

Celebrant Fr Sean O’Sullivan described how a terrible sense of sadness and dread filled the community last week as word of a fatal house fire spread through the community. 

The sense of sadness only deepened when it emerged it was the man known affectionately to many as ‘Big Pete', who had died, together with his beloved dog, Charlie.

He described the real warmth and affection in so many of the messages left on RIP.ie, as people remembered Mr Lyall's kindness, helpfulness, his generosity in sharing his knowledge, his good humour, his capacity for fun, his positivity as a coach, his big heart, and his even bigger smile.

“Many of the tributes described Pete as a gentle giant, others as a gentleman, and it reminded me once more of George Bernard Shaw’s definition of a gentleman — someone who puts more into life than they take out,” he said.

“And wouldn’t we all like to be remembered as such. Someone who left the world richer for having lived."

He spoke of how the process of brewing had something to say to us today.

"Because it involves choosing the finest ingredients and raw materials, blending them together in the right proportion, achieving the right mix, the right balance, and then allowing them the time to ferment, giving them time. It can't be rushed," Fr O'Sullivan said.

“And Peter knew that, not just in his work as a brewer, but in his life.

“Family, friendship, his passion for work, his love of basketball and coaching, his love of fun and a bit of craic — they were the ingredients of his life. And he blended them into something that, like his beer, will last long beyond them. 

"Crucially, he understood the importance of time. He gave time to each of those elements, allowing them to ferment and to develop, to grow richer.

And one of his great gifts seems to have been his ability to make time for people to chat, to coach, to enjoy a pint, or to help a colleague.

Fr O'Sullivan said one message of condolence from a colleague highlighted how before showing them how to do a job, Mr Lyall would "sit them down first and have a cuppa and a chat, and then he'd show them".  

“Another said that he didn't know how Pete found the time, but he'd always text him to see how he got on in his matches. Maybe that's one of the legacies he leaves. To remind us how important it is to give time to what is truly important to us.

“We live in a world where we always seem rushed doing things for people, and we forget sometimes that the most important thing we can give them is our time. And we hope that we can follow Pete’s example.” 

The funeral took place afterwards in St Mary’s Cemetery, Curraghkippane.