‘It was the Irish athletes, cyclists, and boxers who were Brendan's pride and joy'

The many assembled at the funeral of Brendan Mooney showed him in a great light of love, decency, and service

SHOW OF RESPECT: Sonia O’Sullivan with Ann Mooney at the funeral of her husband and former ‘Irish Examiner’ sports reporter Brendan Mooney at St Patrick’s Church, Rochestown. Picture: Michael Mac Sweeney

I didn’t know the eminent sports writer Brendan Mooney, who passed away last week, but after his funeral Mass and burial yesterday I feel that I did. The many assembled showed him in a great light of love, decency, and service.

Of course I had been reading Brendan’s accounts of great sporting events most of my life and if I felt like an interloper at the ceremonies, I knew that — of all people — Brendan would have forgiven my presence there. Where there’s a story to be told there has to be somebody to tell it.