Funeral of renowned actor Gary Lydon hears of his love for North Roscommon

The funeral of renowned actor and Wexford native Gary Lydon heard how he loved living in Cootehall.

At Mr Lydon’s Funeral Mass in St. Michael’s Church, Cootehall today, Wednesday, local parish priest Fr Brendan McDonagh spoke of how much Mr Lydon loved North Roscommon. 

“We thank God for the man we knew and who worked among us,” he said.

When the priest was called to Mr Lydon’s house on the night he passed away, Fr McDonagh noticed what he described as a “very important picture” on one of the walls.

“It denoted his love of the countryside. It was a picture of clamps of turf and sods of turf scattered around the clamps with roaming hills in the background and a lovely little house on top of the hill. A beautiful painting, it really much caught my eye. It was very much like where Gary lived himself,” he said.

Fr McDonagh added: “Last Wednesday, Gary was seen on his bicycle cycling in the area. At 61, no-one expected Gary to leave us but sudden death is frightening and makes every one of us sit up and take notice.” 

During the service, symbols reflecting different aspects of his life were brought to the altar: his bicycle helmet, representing his love of cycling the Leitrim Blueway with his son Seanluke; a pair of oven gloves, remembering his fondness for baking sticky toffee pudding and lemon drizzle cakes for his sons; a Wexford jersey and flag, symbolising his pride in his native roots; and a poster of him in one of the productions of his “great friend”, playwright Billy Roche.

His son James Lydon delivered an emotional tribute to his father, describing it as “one of the greatest privileges of his life” to have shared the stage with him one final time. He spoke movingly of his deep bond with his father, recalling their last performance together in a Billy Roche play at the Wexford Arts Centre.

“There are so many memories to draw from. I will keep them with me forever, especially when I got to share the stage with you, one last time in ‘Of Mornington’. It is now one of the greatest privileges of my life and the most important role I will ever play,” he said.

Mourners heard how Gary Lydon did everything to support his son when it came to pursuing a career in acting and making that a possibility.

“I thank you for instilling in me a love and appreciation of the arts. I learned that you did that for so many young artists.

“In school, I was so proud to say that my Dad was an actor. When it came around to a school project and my celebrity hero, I chose you. I wanted people to know that you were my Dad,” he said.

Prominent figures from the world of film and theatre gathered for the funeral service of the Wexford native, who had lived in North Roscommon for many years. Mourners included Martin McDonagh, Director of the The Banshees of Inisherin in which Gary Lydon featured; Liam Cunningham, Aidan Gillen and other fellow cast members from the crime drama series, Love/Hate and the medical drama, The Clinic.

Mr Lydon worked extensively across theatre, television and cinema but despite starring alongside household names, the bright lights held little appeal for him; he preferred the quiet of rural Roscommon.

Mr Lydon was widely recognised for his collaborations with Mr Roche who worked with the actor for forty years. Speaking to the Herald today in Cootehall, the Wexford playwright described him as a “powerful method actor”.

“He lived and breathed the parts. He was very demanding on himself and everyone around him as well. He probably didn’t realise it but he was an iconic actor. He will be much missed,” said Mr Roche.

Mr Lydon was born in London in 1961 to Irish parents, the late Jimmy and Judy O’Brien, but moved as a child to Wexford town.

Following news of his sudden death on Thursday, April 30th, tributes poured in from near and far, including his local GAA club in Roscommon, St. Michael’s.

In a condolence message, the club noted that Mr Lydon trained and played with St. Michael’s, and in subsequent years was a regular presence on the sideline supporting the club especially when his son James was playing.

The club held a guard of honour today in his memory before burial took place in the local cemetery.

Mr Lydon is immediately survived by his sons Seanluke and James, and their mother Kara; partner Paula and her daughter Aoife; and brothers Anthony, Seamus and Ian.