Butty Got a Turnout and Tribute he Would Have been Proud of

Applause, photograph and respect as the cortege of the late Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue makes its way up Main Street this morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Bikers and neighbours and friends of the Sugrue family gathering at Tangney’s Funeral home this morning before the funeral moved off. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Bikers leading the cortege in tribute to the late Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue as they convey his remains through the streets of his native town this morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Members of the Church Street Nolan families out to pay their respects to the late Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue this morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy

FR. Mossie Brick, PP Castleisland with his team, Noreen O’Sullivan and Nora Fealey waiting to pay their respects to the late Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue this morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Denis Devane (left) and Franco Moriarty waiting to pay their respects to the late Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue this morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Bikers paying their own unique tribute to the late Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue as they convey his remains through the streets of his native town this morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The funeral of the late Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue taking him on his final journey from Church Street this morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The Castleisland based, Daly Transport firm: Kevin Daly (left) with his parents, Cáit and Michael and their own, personalised tribute to the late Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue this morning. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Castleisland and its hinterland downed tools this morning and its people stood in condolence and solidarity as the remains of Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue were conveyed through the streets and a well populated guard of honour.

All aspects of his life were included in the turn out where trucks and motorbikes abounded in a tribute that he would be proud of.

Someone in the crowd along Main Street asked: ‘Was Butty into Bikes’ – ‘Butty was into everything’ came the reply.

Crowd Lined Main Street

The Covid-19 time turnout was a glowing testament to the man and the family members – many of whom are now living abroad.

His remains left Tangney’s Funeral Home shortly after the appointed time of 10:30am and made its way slowly up Church Street down around the Back of the Forge and up to St. Stephen’s Park before making it back to the crowd lined Main Street.

Private Cremation in Shannon

There, people applauded, bared and bowed their heads, cried said silent prayers and pulled out phones and photographed and filmed the passing cortege as it made its way to Limerick Road Corner and out of sight.

Butty’s remains were cremated today in a private ceremony in Shannon. But the memories and stories of a life lived to the full remain.

There will be a celebration of mass locally for him as soon as it’s safe to do so and maybe we’ll hear and share some of those stories then.

Family Members

Butty was predeceased by his parents Michael and Hannah, his sisters Kathleen, Hilary and Mary Geraldine and his brother Pa.

He is survived by his  partner, Marie O’Toole, Emmet, brothers: Eddie, Denis, Joe, Daniel and John, sisters: Mag, Philomena, Mary, Denise, Caroline and Elaine, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, uncle Jamsie, aunt Mary Bridget, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

For more on Butty please Click on the link here: http://www.mainevalleypost.com/2020/06/03/the-late-michael-butty-sugrue-castleisland-and-glenealy-co-wicklow/