Christie: a singer who prayed twice when he sang
THOSE who sing, pray twice.
That was the message to mourners at singer-songwriter Christie Hennessy's memorial Mass yesterday.
Christie's life was a "powerful example" in the current drink and drugs culture, Monsignor Dan O'Riordan told the congregation before quoting the Latin phrase "Bis orat qui cantat" --- which translates as "those who sing, pray twice".
Christie did not seek fame or the cult of celebrity, his considerable charity work was done behind the scenes and he held to a commitment made as a young man not to drink or smoke, "a powerful example" in the current drink and drugs culture, mourners at St John's Church, Tralee, Co Kerry heard.
Prayers were also said at the Mass for the late Joe Dolan.
A lone piper led the funeral cortege through the streets of Tralee, accompanying the ashes of the 62-year-old singer song-writer who died from asbestosis in London on December 10. His remains were afterwards buried in the town's Rath cemetery .
The three gifts brought to the altar by his daughters Hermione and Amber and son Tim included a guitar, a statue of Our Lady to symbolise his devotion to her, and the miniature messenger bike, presented to him by the people of Tralee to mark his well-known song 'Messenger Boy'.
Hermione sang Amazing Grace and the singer Luka Bloom sang "I Will Walk Beside You."
Welcoming Christie Ross Hennessy back to St John's parish church, Monsignor O'Riordan said the singer was baptised there at four days old in November 1945, and had afterwards received his first Holy Communion and his Confirmation.
"Christie was a messenger boy in more ways than one," Monsignor O'Riordan said, speaking of his work for the Samaritans, the hospice foundation and his visits to his old neighbours at Casement Avenue and to the ill in Tralee's hospitals on his visits home.
RTE broadcaster Aonghus McAnally said Christie Hennessy was a "remarkable human being". He was a fantastic father and husband and a brilliant guitar player, he said."He was the writer of some of the most delicately crafted and lyrically exquisite songs of our generation," Mr McAnally added.
Christie's wife Jill, who also led the scripture readings, said he had a profound effect on other people, as a family man, a talented singer and also as a healer of many years standing.
She had no words to express how much she and his family missed him.
- Anne Lucey
