TEARS flowed at Glasnevin Cemetery last week as leading historian Shane MacThomais was laid to rest.
The famous and much-loved Northsider was found dead in the cemetery on Thursday, March 20 and was buried last Wednesday, March 26, following an emotional humanist ceremony in the cemetery’s chapel.
The ceremony was a celebration of Shane’s life and speakers included daughter Morgane, sisters MelÃosa and Orla and friends, Jack Gleeson, Lorcan Collins and Conor Ã? Mearáin.
MacThomais was the son of famous Dublin broadcaster, author and Irish Republican, Eamonn MacThomáis.
During last week’s celebration the loss of MacThomais was likened by his pal, Collins, to a library burning down while Gleeson described his best friend as
“an eccentric character who still had bags of potential and talent to go on to even greater things than he had already achieved.
?
Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, also paid tribute along with Glasnevin Trust CEO, George McCullough, and a slideshow of photos from Shane’s life was shown on a projector screen during the hour long ceremony.
The small chapel was overflowing with mourners including Sinn Fein TD, Mary Lou McDonald, who had worked closely with him for a number of years, and RTE broadcaster, Joe Duffy, who was also a good friend.
Glasnevin Trust set up speakers outside the chapel to allow the hundreds of mourners outside the chapel listen to the celebration from the grounds outside.
MacThomais’s body was reposed in the chapel on Tuesday, March 25, and visitors included President Michael D Higgins, whose Aide de Camp attended the ceremony as his representative.
MacThomáis grew up in Wadelai, Glasnevin, and was schooled in Ballymun at Our Lady of Victories and Trinity Comprehensive. He was living in Stoneybatter at the time of his death.
An avid reader he left school aged 15 and became a self-educated historian of note and one of Dublin’s most popular tour guides. He was much in demand as a public speaker in historical circles, mostly providing his services for free such was his love of history.
He was a key member of the 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour for many years and helped develop it into a hugely popular tourist experience. He also previously worked at the Allen Library, the Guinness Visitor Centre and the James Joyce Centre, where he befriended Senator David Norris.
A big supporter of the Northern Ireland Peace Process, he was a leading member of Dublin Sinn Fein for a number of years and was instrumental in organising the party’s Céad Bliain celebrations (100th birthday) in the Mansion House in 2005.
Party leader, Gerry Adams, who got to known him personally, described MacThomáis as an
“exemplary member
?.
He left Sinn Fein in 2010 and took up his full time position at Glasnevin Cemetery Museum where he had worked casually since 1996. Glasnevin Trust CEO, George McCullough, described him as Glasnevin’s star and he was regularly courted by the media for his expertise.
MacThomáis wrote a popular column for Northside People newspaper and also published two books;
‘Dead Interesting’ and
‘Glasnevin – Ireland’s Necropolis’.
Shane MacThomáis is survived by daughter Morgane, mother Rosaleen sisters Ã?rla and MelÃosa and brother Damien.