The late Adrian Power
THE entire community joined last week in mourning at the unexpected death at his home in Enniskillen on Wednesday last of 53-year old Adrian Power.
The husband of Marian, he was the father of three, Christopher, Ben and Zoe, and lived at Old Rossorry Road, Enniskillen.
He was employed at St Michael’s College as a computer technician but was, perhaps, best known as a musician. He played bass guitar with his brothers in the popular wedding band Power Struggle.
Adrian is further survived by his parents, Patsy and Bridie (Derrylin), his brothers, Declan and Gerry and his sisters, Karen and Marie.
A spokesman for the Power family said they were,’absolutely overwhelmed’ by the outpouring of love and support shown to them since Adrian’s death.
“We would just like to say thanks to everyone.”
Mark Henry, the acting principal of St Michael’s College said the school was in deep shock and mourning.
“Not only was Adrian a valued colleague, he was a very close friend with many members of the staff and had built up strong friendships in his 23 years at the school. The whole school community is devastated.”
The well-attended funeral Mass was celebated on Sunday last at St Michael’s Church, Enniskillen where, in his homily, Monsignor Macartan McQuaid, who is chaplain to St Michael’s College, recalled interviewing Adrian for the technician’s post in 1992. He is a former president of the college.
“In his main work of organising the whole computer system in the school, he was exceptional, always there to help, he never made a compliment of assisting whenever asked. He was so knowledgeable.
no half measures
“There were no half measures with Adrian. Only the best would do. He was a wonderful worker, a great colleague, a very versatile person, a gentleman.”
Then, turning to his death, Fr McQuaid said he was always there to help others.
“Isn’t it such a pity”, he asked, “that he did not reach out and let others help him?”
At the start of the Mass, symbols of the various pursuits that Adrian was involved in, music, water -sports, cycling, athletics, mountaineering and skiing were taken up to the altar.
All of these sectors were represented in the congregation.
The music for the liturgy was provided by, “Tully and Johnny Gallagher from the band, ‘Boxty’.
Following the Mass, Adrian’s remains were brought to St Ninnidh’s Church, Derrylin for burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Other tributes came from the print media and Facebook.
The board of governors, staff and pupils of St Michael’s College expressed their deepest sympathy at the untimely death of their valued colleague, and Adrian’s classmates at St Aidan’s High School from 1973-’79 described him as, ‘always a true gentleman’.
They too tendered sincere sympathy to the entire Power family circle and remembered ‘at this sad time’ three other deceased members of the group, Hugh Martin, Margaret Reilly and Valerie McManus.
Facebook tributes came from fellow members of Enniskillen Running Club which, as a mark of respect, rescheduled last Saturday’s 10k to this coming Saturday.
Last Saturday’s Enniskillen Park Run was dedicated to Adrian, a previous participant.
Among this year’s participants were members of ERC, St Michael’s College and Derrylin GFC who said Adrian was a vital member of their 1985 ‘Junior Double’ winning team.
A plea to those suffering depression
A HEARTFELT plea to people suffering depression to seek help was made at the funeral Mass for Adrian Power by Monsignor Macartan McQuaid, the chaplain to St Michael’s College where Adrian was employed.
As the then college president, he recalled interviewing him for the technician’s job and described him as ‘a wonderful worker, a great colleague, a very versatile person, a gentleman.’
He went on: “ He was always there to help others. Isn’t it such a pity that he did not reach out and let others help him?
Adrian died unexpectedly at his Enniskillen home on Wednesday last. He was married to Marian and was the father of Christopher, Ben and Zoe.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful on this day”, Fr McQuaid suggested, “as a lasting tribute to Adrian, if every one of us would make a pledge to ourselves and to God: “If I ever feel a darkness of depression creep up on me, or jump out at me, I will seek every possible avenue of help. I will convince myself that it is OK not to feel OK, that I will repeat to myself and to anyone else whom I can influence, that it is never, never, never a correct decision to end my own life. Suicide no more, no more.”
Fr McQuaid said he would never ask: “what causes suicide, nor would he ever think of blaming.
“It especially hurts those who are closest. They tend to ask: “Should I or someone else have noticed? Could we have done something?
“Sometimes, it leads them to blame – themselves, the victim, others. They should not. It is wrong and futile.”
He said Adrian Power was much loved by many.
“We need to remember and rejoice in his good years and days. None of us should let his sickness of the last few months diminish the wonderful reality of all that he did for so many, all that he was to so many for years.”
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