A PENSIONER fatally assaulted outside his home in Limerick City was “funny, loyal, and kind” and had a “heart of gold”, his funeral mass heard.
Michael ‘Mikey’ Hayes (72) died after he was found with critical injuries outside his home at St Michael’s Court, Watergate, on July 10.
A man has been charged with his murder before Limerick District Court.
A large crowd greeted a coffin carrying Mr Hayes, shouldered by loved ones into St John’s Cathedral, where his funeral mass was held.
Retired Irish army and United Nations soldiers, dressed in uniform, performed a guard of honour as Mr Hayes’ coffin, draped in the tricolour, was brought inside the cathedral.
In an emotional tribute, one of Mr Hayes’ four sons told mourners that his father “brought smiles, told stories, made memories, but behind the craic and the spoofs, was a man with a heart of gold”.
“He would help anybody – no hesitation, no questions asked. If you needed him, he was there. That kind of loyalty and kindness is rare, and he gave it so freely.
“He loved the drink, a laugh, and being around people. More than that, he loved his family, his friends, and his community, and we loved him deeply and truly.”
Mr Hayes’ son said that “it’s impossible to come to terms with how his life ended, but we will carry his spirit”.
“He was 72 years old when his life was taken from us, far too soon, and in the most cruel and senseless way.
“None of us will ever understand it, but what we do understand is the impact he made while he was here, and that’s what we’re here to remember.”
‘Mikey spoofs’
Mr Hayes described his late father as “an unforgettable man” who brought fun and happy memories to his family and friends.
“Our dad was a kind man, a proper character — if you knew him, you’d know he was some man to make up a story, and not just any story, a full-blown ‘Mikey spoof’,” he said to laughter from gathered loved ones and friends.
“He could spin a tail from nothing, and he’d have you in stitches before you realised half of it was made up. They would be one of those stories you wouldn’t believe about a neighbour, cousin, or some poor stranger that probably never existed at all.
“But the magic was you didn’t care, because when Mikey told a story, you listened and you laughed.
“That was Mikey’s gift. He didn’t need a stage, a microphone, just a crowd, a bit of attention, and maybe a pint, and he was away. He brought joy into every room, just being just by being in it.”
Mr Hayes told the gathered mourners that his father was “known by many for his time selling ice-cream at the football matches and concerts. That’s where you’d find him with a cheeky grin, a quick joke, and a ‘99 in each hand.”
“Those weren’t just work shifts, they were adventures,” he said.
“Today we say goodbye to an unforgettable man. We’ll tell his stories, ‘Mikey spoofs’, and we’ll do our best to laugh through the tears, just like he would have wanted.”
Fighting back tears, Mr Hayes concluded to an ovation from the congregation: “Rest easy, Dad, you were one in a million, and we’ll be telling your stories for the rest of our lives.”
Afterwards, Michael Hayes was laid to rest at Mount Saint Oliver Cemetery.
The late Garryowen native is survived by his sons Tom, Michael, Brendan, and Joe, his beloved grandchildren, and a wide circle of adoring family, friends, and neighbours. He is pre-deceased by his parents Mike and Esther, and his siblings Joe and Rosie.
