Large crowd pays tribute to Nobber victim of N2 road tragedy
A very large number of mourners turned out to pay their last respects to crash victim Glenn Curtis (28), Dunroe, Nobber, who died tragically in the multiple-fatality car crash near Carrickmacross. Celebrants at the funeral Mass in St John the Baptist Church, Nobber, last Thursday were Fr Seamus Houlihan, PP, Nobber, and Fr Finian Connaughton, PP, Drumconrath. In his homily, Fr Houlihan spoke of Glenn's love of farming, his love of music and socialising and his enthusiasm for Liverpool Football Club. Fr Houlihan also spoke of “the love of God which draws each of us to himself even if at times it is very painful for those of us left behind but not for the person who has goneâ€. Gifts brought to the altar during the offertory procession included a model of a tractor and baler to indicate his love of working machinery. Also brought to the altar was a model of a Caterpillar digger, emphasising his love of excavation. Another gift symbolised his affection for Liverpool FC. Mr Curtis had set up an agricultural contracting business with his friend, Paul Carroll, where they got an opportunity to work with tractors and machinery, working for local tillage farmers and cutting silage. The family received a message of sympathy from Aras an Uachtaráin, in which President Mary McAleese said that the family was in her thoughts and prayers. Both the Nobber GFC and Electro Celtic Football teams formed a guard of honour along the route from the church to the cemetery. Glenn's father, Seán, is a founding member of Electro Celtic. The distinctive black and amber flag of the Nobber GFC which had so recently billowed triumphantly after the team's win in the Intermediate Football Final hung limply at half-mast on the entry to the club grounds as the funeral cortege passed. In his homily, Fr Houlihan also remembered the other victims in the accident, Roisin Connolly from Drumcondra in Dublin and her unborn child, and Paul Carroll from Kingscourt. Fr Houlihan pointed out that “Glenn was due to be the Godfather of his nephew, Eoin, son of Shane and Elaine, and while the baptism - due to be held on Sunday 2nd January - has been postponed to a later date, Glenn's close association with the baby as his Godfather from Heaven will be maintainedâ€. Mr Curtis is survived by his parents, Seán and Marion; his brother, Shane; sister, Sinéad, and sister-in-law, Elaine.