Arriving at Holycross Abbey on Sunday July 7th for the Funeral Mass for the late Harry Gleeson, I couldn't but be struck by a sense of sadness and equally a sense of rejoicing.
It was, you could say, bittersweet to bring back, celebrate, and reinter the remains of Harry Gleeson in his native parish of Holycross Ballycahill.
It was a unique occasion as there had never been a Funeral Mass for one of their own parishioners, who had died so many years previously.
It was a great relief for his family that he will eventually, and at last, rest in peace among his own family and friends.
As the hearse carrying Harry's remains arrived at Holycross Abbey from his home at Galbertstown, many people lined the route in a guard of honour while hundreds more were on the streets surrounding the Abbey. It was obvious that people had travelled from far and wide to pay their respects and it was a just tribute to an innocent man and to a campaign group that had persevered to clear his name.
It was emotional to see his niece Kitty sitting in the front seat of the hearse and acknowledging the support of the vast crowds.
It was very poignant to see the many people who reached out to touch Harry's coffin as a gesture of solidarity and remembrance.
The remains were received into the Abbey by Very Rev. Celsus Tierney P.P., Holycross Ballycahill, and Fr. Brendan Duggan, Rockwell College. The Funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr. Tierney assisted by Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Bishop John Ryan, Bishop of Mzuzu, Malawi, Fr. Bobby Fletcher, Fr. Brendan Duggan, Fr. Pat McKeever and Fr. Tom Fogarty.
There was another very poignant moment right at the start of Mass when a violin that Harry himself played was brought to the altar, as the one and only symbol, by his great grand nephew Harry and his Mum Ciara. It was a moment of stark reality of the happy life that Harry enjoyed until that was cruelly taken away from him by our own State. It was placed on Harry's coffin and was subsequently played during the ceremony by Anthony Condron.
In welcoming the packed attendance Fr. Tierney also welcomed those who were joining via webcam from the US, Spain, France, UK, and from around Ireland.
He said that Harry Gleeson was from Galbertstown and that is where the family homes exists, and it was where Harry resided for the last couple of days following his removal from Mountjoy on Friday afternoon.
"We gather here in this historic chapel, which was still a ruin during the life of Harry Gleeson.
"We gather in this place to welcome his mortal remains, and today we also include and remember (at the request of both families) Moll McCarthy, and her children, who were part of the tragic story, part of our history which we can not disown.
"Much has been written and spoken about the life of Harry Gleeson. Much has been written about his trial, his execution, and about his exoneration by the state for the wrongful death at the hands of the state, where he was accused of a murder that he did not commit.
"We gather here some 83 years after his death to offer him a Christian burial, which was not afforded to him at the time of his death in Mountjoy Prison. His death on Wednesday April 23rd, 1941, for a crime of murder, he was later proven not to have committed, is part of our darker and bleaker history of our own state.
"Regretfully it was a time when Church and State failed to stand up for and defend the innocent, in the case of Harry Gleeson. In subsequent years the guilty verdict was overturned and on April 6th, 2015, the Irish Government acknowledged the miscarriage of justice that had occurred and apologised for Harry Gleeson's wrongful execution.
"In December of that year, President Michael D. Higgins signed a posthumous pardon which formally declared his innocence, the first posthumous pardon in the history of the state.
"Harry had finally gotten justice 74 years after his death.
"History books and many articles have been written and they have deliberated over the verdict. That is not our purpose here today to question or to deliberate on the guilt of others.
"Safe to say that Harry Gleeson always proclaimed his own innocence, that he was ready to meet his own maker with a clear conscience. His correspondence with close friends and family give ample evidence of that. His testimony to Mr. Seán MacBride, who was his Junior Counsel, on the night before his execution, stated that he had no confession to make only that 'I didn't do it, that is all. I will pray for you and be with you if I can, whenever you are fighting the battle for justice.'
"The Church's purpose is always about the mercy and forgiveness of God, it is about faith in Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead, and it was the source of courage for Harry Gleeson during his final trial and a source of comfort for him.
"Harry Gleeson was able to face his maker in the knowledge that there was new life, places where there would be no more suffering or tears, no more judgement and everlasting life" said Fr. Tierney.
Before concluding his homily, Fr. Tierney made a number of observations. "Life is precious, it is a gift given to us by God and it has to be treated as such.
"When all is taken away from us, as it was with Harry Gleeson, then all we have is our faith in God.
"Never give up and always have hope. It was that hope that kept his family and supporters working for the cause of right for Harry Gleeson.
"We should be slow to judge. It is easy to find fault with others and sometimes we are quick in condemnation. We can only judge if we walk in the shoes of others as only God knows the innocence or guilt of people.
"To all who worked and campaigned for this cause, to all who were part of the Justice for Harry Gleeson campaign, and others who helped along the way, all of you deserve our thanks and congratulations.
"Through the website RIP.ie we can see the reach of the cause of Harry Gleeson and it goes way beyond the parishes of Holycross Ballycahill and Moycarkey Borris. It gives a clear indication of the people who have followed this cause and this case" concluded Fr. Tierney.
Harry Gleeson. (RIP.ie)
Family members participated in the Mass with Readings, Prayers of the Faithful and Offertory Procession, and before Mass concluded, his grandnieces Ann and Mary Bridget Gleeson paid their own tribute.
Ann said that we must never forget Harry's last words to Seán MacBride; "The last thing I want to say is that I will pray tomorrow that whoever did it will be discovered and that the whole thing will be like an open book. I rely on you to clear my name. I have no confession to make only that I didn't do it, that is all. If like the rest of us tears swamp your eyes, replace them with a smile, and rejoice with us in the music of truth, justice and peace at last."
Mary Bridget read a poem composed in memory of Harry. The final lines of the poem sum up the feeling of his return to his native parish. "Now I think of friends, good folk and kin, all long since passed away, who fought in vain to clear your name, until their dying day. And absent friends who can't be here, to meet you at our door, they surely shed a tear and give a cheer to see you home once more. Long before this day has flown, you'll be back with your own, back with the clan, Harry Gleeson an innocent man."
After the Mass, hundreds of people accompanied Harry on his final journey to St. Mary's Cemetery, where he was interred with his family.
Throughout the journey from the Abbey to the cemetery, family members and friends took turns in shouldering the coffin and as the coffin entered the cemetery, Anthony Condron walked in front playing traditional tunes on Harry's violin.
Fr. Tierney presided over the internment and offered prayers for Harry and for all members of the Gleeson family.
After Harry was interred, further traditional music was played by Anthony and Tom Doran played "The Galbertstown Waltz" on the accordion, and there was also a performance of a song written in tribute to Harry by Margaret Heaphy.
A well-deserved send-off for an innocent man. As I headed away from Holycross, I was reminded of the daily life that Harry enjoyed when I was stopped by a herd of cattle crossing the road. It was perhaps a final nod from Harry that he was finally home!
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