My dear friends:

i wanted to write you on this blog as you have all been such a part of my father's and my own life for the last 4 months as we've studied Irish together. Today, dad was killed in a farm machinery accident. He was trying to get things prepared on his farm for our trip. I wish you all could have met him as he was the most remarkable man I have ever met. Each of you brought joy to him in these last months of his life. I read your posts to him and he was so thrilled to hear the recordings that you made. He enjoyed having me read your comments to him.

As you all know, we were due to leave on Wednesday for Ireland, and we had planned to have his birthday party next Friday night in Omagh. I am deeply saddened at the loss of my father. We enjoyed speaking Irish together more than you all will ever know, and you each had a part in that.

Keep the McMullens in your prayers,
Faber

quote:

I wish you all could have met him as he was the most remarkable man I have ever met.

In a way, we did.

Our condolences to you and your family, Faber.

Caoimhín

Ar dheis Dé go rabh a anam.

Ní maith liom do thrioblóid. Very sad news, Faber. May your father live on in you and your family and in everyone of us whose heart he touched.

Is olc liom do bhris. Leaba i measc naomh na nGael go raibh aige.

It is terribly sad for you to have to suffer such undeserved cruelty of fate. I am very sorry for your loss.

Ar dheis láimh Dé go raibh a anam.

Is é an trua ghéar é a Fhaber, gur éag t'athair de thaisme agus é chomh saothrach roimh a theacht go hÉirinn le haghaidh na cóisreach. How sad indeed Faber that your father should be taken from you just before his birthday celebration in Ireland.

Ní mór a bheith buíoch de gur léirigh sé duit féin a Fhaber, a dhúil sa tseanteanga. Leaba i measc na nGael go raibh aige. How great on the other hand that he had the chance to encourage you in your interest in Irish and that he himself actively participated. Grásta ó Dhia air.

Go ndéanaí Dia trocaire air.

A Faber, a chara,

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. My prayers are with your Dad, you and your family.

David

Saibhreas na bhflaitheas dó.

Sorry to hear about your dad, Faber. Remember your good times. I live in rural Illinois and know how easily these things can happen.

Beannacht
("Blessing")

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.


~ John O'Donohue ~

Faberm, a chara liom, I am sad and shocked at the tragic death of your father. Thank you for sharing it with us. I can only imagine your distress. Leaba i measc na Naomh go raibh aige. May he rest among the Saints. You were good to him in sharing his interest in Irish. Go dtuga Dia sólás duit. May God console you and all the family.

Terrible.
You have my deepest sympathies.

There are no words - You are in my prayers

Faberm a Chara,
I've just been reading the very sad news;
We've been getting used to read from you and your father on this very blog and that was good knowing father and son were getting along fine, with the same aim, and so much communication .
I feel really very sad for you .
Something I heard said in France in such periods : "le ou la bien-aimée qui vient de nous quitter est toujours avec nous, il ou elle est simplement de l'autre côté du chemin " , which I would translate : " He or She, beloved one who's just left us is still there with us, He or She is just on the other side of the road ".

Just all my sympathy , a Chara .
Jean

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

I am so so sorry to hear about your loss. From reading your posts it was obvious how close you both were. Such a tragedy before his trip to Ireland. My heart goes out to you.

A chara,

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss and I dearly wish I'd been around more to have met him on these boards, he sounds like an amazing person and I can't imagine how difficult losing him now is for you and the other members of your family. I wish you all the very best possible as you and your family face the difficulties of missing him and learning to keep going.

Beir bua agus beannacht, victory and blessings.

Le Ard Meas
Riona

Dear Friends:

Yesterday I gave my dad's eulogy and spoke to him in Irish. An old man (about 85 years old) from County Clare was on the front row in a kilt and began to weep as I spoke. He said it was so so good to hear me speak, that he had not heard Irish in a long time. It was beautiful. Tomorrow we will have a memorial in my little town. That will be the end. Dad is laid to rest. If you desire you can read about him by going to the following page and looking for "McMullen, Faber"


http://www.legacy.com/houstonchronicle/DeathNotices.asp?Page=SearchResults

I appreciate you all,
Faber

Tá an brón orm a cloistáil faoi do Athair a Faberm.Cuimhneodh mé é í mo paidireacha.T