Fograi Bhais: Ray Buckley

Composer, musician, patriot and poet but, above all, he was a friend

Ray Buckley with Gerry Adams

THE death has occurred in Drogheda at 72 years of age of Sinn Féin member Ray Buckley.
A beloved husband, father and grandfather, Ray spent his whole life living and working in his native Drogheda.
A cooper by trade, he was also a skilled musician, playing the saxophone professionally for such local legends as The Flying Carlton with Maurice Mullally, and the The Glen Miller Legacy. He was also a prolific poet and wrote volumes of verse, four or five volumes of which were presented as gifts at this funeral Mass.
With his family reared, Ray turned his attention to a cause he had believed in all his life: the struggle for a 32-county republic.
He, along with others, was inspired by the successful election of TD Arthur Morgan and committed himself to getting Sinn Féin representation on the local borough council. He took over the running of the town’s constituency office by day and took to the streets at night canvassing, leafleting and promoting the party.
In 2004, he saw the fruits of his work with the election of two councillors. In 2009, Ray witnessed his party become the second largest party on the council winning three of the twelve seats on the Council and also the election of two county councillors for the party in the town.
Ray was secretary of the Drogheda cumann, a role he took seriously, his complete professionalism and efficiency meant he was the ideal person to liaise with local gardaí and others on behalf of the party.
His Tricolour-draped coffin, flanked by a republican guard of honour, was carried to St Peter’s Cemetery for burial.
Ray was a composer, musician, patriot and poet but, above all, he was a friend.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.