Barry McQuaid whose funeral took place yesterday in Dromore
The funeral of Barry McQuaid, killed in a tragic accident while at work in Fermanagh, this week heard him described as “a devoted husband, doting father, dutiful son and grandson and skilled perfectionist for whom less than the best was unthinkable.”
The 34-year-old from Longhill Road in Dromore was on the Ederney GAA club site near Market Street on Friday morning when he was fatally injured.
The young father-of-three, who works for his family’s contractor business, Noel McQuaid and Son sustained “traumatic injuries” in an incident involving a digger.
Two emergency crews were dispatched to the scene along with the NI Air Ambulance at around 10:30am. A spokesman for the NI Health and Safety Executive said they were investigating the incident.
Mr McQuaid was the only child to Noel and Patricia, who runs the newsagents in Dromore, and was married since 2009 to Edel (nee Quinn from Trillick) with whom he had three young children Tess, Tommy and Sadie.
Mourners at his Requiem Mass at St. Davog’s Church in Dromore yesterday (Tuesday) included Mr McQuaid’s widow, children and parents; his grandmother Margaret and father and mother-in-law Brian and Rosaleen Quinn alongside aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces and the wider circle of family and friends.
Fr Patrick MacEntee PP Dromore told the congregation: “Last Friday morning when Barry McQuaid woke and went to work he didn’t know what lay ahead of him. Neither did Edel, Noel or Patricia know what lay ahead for them. Neither did the wider family circle, Barry’s work colleagues or the community of Dromore.
“What lay ahead for Barry was a premature call to eternity and consequently for everybody else, especially those who loved him most, a terrible sense of shock and loss.
“Barry was called early – too early. His life being like a book with many good chapters to which we would wish he could have added more. But many good books can be short and are none the less rich for that.
“Barry built a beautiful house and together with Edel created a beautiful home and family.
“He built into his life family, faith and friends as well as business interests and much more. He built a reputation as one to be turned to, to sort out problems and get things done.
“To build is almost by definition to be positive. Barry was positive and his legacy is all of that.”
Ulster Unionist MLA Rosemary Barton was among those who expressed sympathy following the tragedy.
“No family ever wants to receive this devastating news and my thoughts and prayers go out to them at this difficult time,” she said.
DUP Councillor Raymond Farrell added: “No words can be expressed to state the sadness and shock at the sudden death of this young father and friend to many.”
Ederney Community Development Trust, Kesh Community Association and St. Joseph’s GFC also expressed their deepest condolences.
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