'Kind' Clonmany man Michael Toland was 'much-loved and respected' mourners at his funeral are told
Michael Toland was a ‘kind’ and ‘good man’ who was much-loved and respected, mourners at his funeral heard on Saturday morning.
The Requiem Mass for the devoted father and grandfather, who was in his 80s, was celebrated in St Mary’s Church in Clonmany, in the heart of the community in which he was so well-known and popular.
Mr Toland passed away following a collision at Annagh, Clonmany on Wednesday evening.
Father Kevin Doherty told Mr Toland’s family, which includes his wife Frances, sons Michael, Martin and Gerard and extended family, that his death had caused ‘great shock’ in the community and how many people have had such ‘wonderful’ things to say about him.
He described recent storms that led to a power cut in the locality and told how the suddenness of it rendered them ‘quite helpless’.
"One minute, you’re going about doing ordinary, every-day things and the next, everything stops.
“Maybe, worst of all, the lights go out. We’re left in the darkness, ‘fouttering’ around, looking for candles or something that can speak into the darkness. Maybe, in a little way, when someone we love dies suddenly, it might feel a little bit like that – one minute the sun is shining, the next it is dark night. Without the slightest chance to prepare, we’re plunged into this darkness.”
Fr Doherty said there was a sense around the community that Michael’s death might feel like that for his family, as it was so sudden, with ‘no time to prepare’.
Fr Doherty told how the love and respect people held for Michael was evident in the words they spoke about him – wonderful, kind things that created a ‘word picture’ of the regard in which he was held within the community.
"The word picture is of a wonderfully-lived and faithfully-lived life.”
Fr Doherty outlined how many people spoke of Michael’s workmanship and craftmanship, his passion for building and the great pride he’d take in his work.
“And, rightly so, as so many can speak, first hand, about the quality of work he brought to their homes’.
He had, also, a great love of nature.
"He’d plant trees and nurture them to growth. He’d tend his garden and had a gift for that and he’d even grow his own vegetables.”
Mourners heard how Michael also had a great love of music and possessed a ‘great gift’ in playing the piano accordion.
He was also a great lover of cars and lorries and was a big fan of the TV programme ‘Heartbeat’ and he loved to identify the vintage cars on the show.
“Michael was a kind man, a good man, who was much-loved and respected,’ said Fr Doherty.
He also had a great ‘ability to love’ and this he shared with his wife, Frances and his family, who he adored. Mr Doherty told how the community is ‘truly sorry’ for their loss and ‘pray that somehow, a healing and light will come into your darkness.”
Addressing Michael’s grandchildren, Fr Doherty said that one of the most precious things their grandfather ever built was all the love in his heart for them.
"He loved you more than the whole world and he still loves you.”
Michael, continued Fr Doherty, was one of 10 children and had a ‘very happy childhood’. He fondly remembered his childhood with his brothers and sisters, some who are ‘gone from this life.’
"It’s the mark of the man that Michael had, apart from this wonderfully close circle of love, so many others we could mention who carry Michael in your heart today.”
Michael Toland was, said Fr Doherty, a man of great faith, and added how ‘life and love are always stronger than death and darkness’
"We give thanks to Michael for showing us a way our life can be lived, faithfully and wonderfully.”