Joe Dwyer, 4 October 1959 – 23 November 2023

On 23 November my Uncle Joe sadly passed away. For our family he’s simply irreplaceable. I was honoured yesterday to be asked to speak at his funeral. It is difficult to sum up the life of someone you’ve known for your entire life. He lived a full, but tragically short life. I hope I did him justice.

Everyone will have their own memories of Joe Dwyer.

To his parents Phyllis and Dennis, Joe was the chosen child. A much wished-for son whom they both loved ever so much and who could do no wrong in their eyes.

To his siblings Eddie and Carmel, Joe was the big brother. The leader of the pack and already an established legend when they entered secondary school. Renowned as a 100m runner, a javelin thrower, a cricketer, and captain of both the basketball team and football team.

To Linda, Joe was simply everything. As she has put it herself, Joe her first and her last. School day sweethearts, who endured the hard times and celebrated the good times. Always together and never apart. Auntie Linda was the love of Joe’s life and if any of us here today enjoy half of the relationship that the two of them shared together; we should consider ourselves to be very lucky indeed.

To Danny and Leanne, Joe was a doting father. Nothing was ever too good or too much for them and he dedicated his life to ensuring that they would have everything that they would need to get through the life ahead of them.

To Ryan and Seán, Joe was their Grandpa. I only know how good it was to have Joe as an Uncle, so I cannot begin to imagine just how great it must have been to have him as your grandfather.

To anyone who worked with Joe – and in particular we think of Janet today. I might not go so far as to say Joe’s ‘partner in crime’ but in all likelihood probably an accomplice.

To anyone who worked with Joe, he was much more than a colleague. He was both a good friend and a trusted confidant. He was someone who could be depended upon. Someone who got the job done whatever the hardships or setbacks. Someone who would be honest perhaps too honest at times. But you always knew where you stood with Joe Dwyer.

Speaking as a member of the wider family, I can only add what Joe meant to us. For us, Joe was a rock. In stormy seas and choppy waters Uncle Joe was a constant. Loyal and strong. Unflappable and unshakable. There was always a comfort in knowing that Uncle Joe was only ever a phone call away if you really needed something.

Uncle Joe was a very generous uncle. But his greatest generosity was always with his words of advice.

Whatever the trials you were going through, whatever troubles you had. If you were having an issue with work, if the car was playing up again, if things were a bit short that month, or – let’s be honest – if you got a letter through from HMRC; Uncle Joe was always on call to offer a good word of counsel and a wise word of wisdom.

Sure, sometimes you wouldn’t even be seeking advice and Uncle Joe would still see fit to tell you what he thought you needed to know.

Other times, even when you already knew what he was about to tell you, Joe would still see fit to tell you again. Just for good measure.

Such was his dependable and consistent nature, it’s hard to even begin to imagine a world without Uncle Joe in it. But, as is said, when the waters get choppy that’s exactly when you hold on tighter.

So we will all hold on tighter to the memories and the lessons that Joe left for us.

Everyone in this room will have their own memories of Joe Dwyer. And everyone here will have their own lessons that he left for them. All of us wish that we had him for far longer. It’s simply not fair that he has left us this early.

But, almost appropriately, he has gone on ahead of us all. He’s ran in first and he’s rang the bell. And whatever lies beyond this life, we can have faith that Joe will be up there. Waiting for us, ready to explain just how everything up there works, and just what we can expect when we arrive. It’s a role that he would be well suited for.

On behalf of the wider family, we extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Linda, Danny, and Leanne. As sad as we are at this moment in time, it must be tenfold for you.

Let it bring you some comfort that Joe’s proudest achievement was always the family that he built. Like any good ground-worker he established solid foundations that will help carry you all through this sad time.

We would like to thank everyone who has come out today to show their respect for Joe.

There are people here that will have their own stories and memories of Joe Dwyer. Stories that are far better than I could possibly tell here today and some that probably can’t be repeated inside this building. But I am sure they’ll all be heard later on at the Irish club. Told with some tears but with plenty of laughter – and dare I say with a few glasses raised in Joe’s honour.

Just how Uncle Joe would have wanted it.