Farewell to the late, great Robbie McMahon

Family, neighbours, friends, musicians and fans of the late, great Robbie McMahon came through the Cross of Spancilhill this past week to pay their respects to the legendary singer and songwriter.
Funeral mass was held for Robbie on Sunday last at Clooney Church, with burial afterwards in Kilraghtis Cemetery, Barefield parish.
It was with great sadness that the East Clare Community learned of his passing on December 13.
A Spancilhill man through and through, Robbie was an institution in his local community and was held in high esteem across the county and further afield, as was evident from the massive attendance at his funeral over the weekend.
His funeral mass was celebrated by Fr Michael Collins PP Clooney Quin, Fr Micháel McInerney AP, Fr John Hogan, Fr Joe McMahon, Fr Dan Spaight and Fr Paddy Conway.
The first reading was read by Labhrás Ó Murchú, the director-general of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, while Mr McMahon’s daughter, Dympna, read the second reading.
During his homily, Fr Collins described Robbie as a man full of joy and someone who wanted to give joy to others, a man with whom all those who attended were all the richer for having known.
Robbie was remembered as a family man, a husband, a father, a brother, a hurler and a community man. He was referred to as someone who was natural and authentic and he was as at home in his local singing circle in Duggan’s Pub on the first Friday as he was singing on Comhaltas tours abroad.
The local choir sang at various stages during the funeral mass and Spancilhill was sung just before his coffin was led out of the church to his final resting place.
A graveside eulogy was given by his son, Donal, while a specially composed poem based on Robbie’s life was also read out.
He will be missed by many, none so more than by his wife Maura; his daughters Dympna, Fiona and Noeleen; his son, Donal and his brother and sisters.