Colin Farrell is grieving the loss of his father Eamon Farrell, who has died at the age of 83 after a long illness.
The former Shamrock Rovers footballer “passed peacefully, after a long illness bravely borne” on Wednesday, with his funeral set to take place this Saturday morning in Ballymun, Co Dublin.
The notice continued: "Beloved husband of Eileen, loving father of Eamon, Catherine, Claudine and Colin and beloved brother of the late Tommy, Maureen and Sean."
“Sadly missed by Rita, step-children William, Keith, Sandra, Aidan, Deborah, Karl, Ciarán and Gary, grandchildren James, Ellen, Henry, Stella and Oscar, in-laws and partners, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.”
Colin was born to Rita and Eamon in Dublin before his parents split and both remarried.
The Banshees of Inisherin actor has often spoken about the impact his father had on his life, both as a parent and a former footballer.
“I was the baby, so I got away with more,” Colin previously said. “My parents weren't as hawkeyed with me… my older brother got the brunt of it and my sisters a little less.
“They’ll all tell you I had the easiest time, but I don’t think it was because I was the favourite – I think just as a result of my parents’ fatigue!”
Reflecting on Eamon’s life after football, Colin recalled: “Dad played football till he was 26 or 27. After that, he owned a fish-and-chip shop by a golf course – The Little Chip Inn, honest to God. He never let us forget the wit of that.
“Then he had a restaurant. He has a health-food store in Dublin called Down To Earth.”
At the Screen Actors Guild Awards last year, Colin paid tribute to his family in an emotional acceptance speech.
“Thanks to my mum, Rita, my dad, Eamon, and the two people in my life who have made my life so much more special… my son James and my son, Henry,” he said.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across the Irish sporting world, including Eamon’s former club Shamrock Rovers.
In a touching Instagram post, the club shared a black-and-white photo of Eamon in his team kit alongside a statement: “The death has occurred of former Rovers player Eamon Farrell. Eamon joined Rovers in 1960 at 18 years of age from the famous schoolboy nursery club Home Farm.”
The club noted he played as a half back and was capped at schoolboy and minor level for Ireland. “Eamon played alongside his older brother Tommy during his time at Milltown. Both were on the team that beat Shelbourne in the FAI Cup final in 1962 played in front of an attendance of 32,000.”
They ended the tribute with a phrase in Irish, “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam,” meaning “May his soul be at God’s right hand.”
