Poems were recited at the graveside at the Convent Cemetery, Enniskillen, on Monday afternoon, as the well-known and widely-respected Fermanagh born poet, Francis James Harvey was laid to rest.

Frank, late of Donegal Town, a much-loved husband, father and grandfather passed away in Letterkenny Hospital on Friday night, aged 89, and it was his wish to be buried in the grave of his parents - Hamilton Morrison Harvey and his wife Gertrude Cassidy Harvey.

The Harvey family, well-known as building contractors in Fermanagh, are steeped in the history of Enniskillen and there is a number of landmark buildings, including the Town Hall and St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, which bear testimony to their work.

Frank Harvey was born in Belmore Street, Enniskillen, on April 13, 1925. His father, Hamilton died when he was six years old; his mother was from Ballyshannon and she moved back there; Frank stayed on and completed his secondary education in Enniskillen, and from time to time, he stayed at the Donnelly’s house in Belmore Street. His brother Michael, late of Belleek, who was five years younger than him, died a few years ago. Frank went to University College, Dublin, where he studied medicine for a year. As his family needed him to be working, he went into the bank, which took him around Ireland, but mostly he was in Donegal. He met his wife Agnes Gormley in Donegal and the couple’s five daughters are Attracta, Esther, Danea and twins Pauline and Joan.

Frank had a deep love of poetry throughout his life and he recollected that his writing was initiated through a boarder who had been staying in the family home and who gave him a copy of The New Statesman. The Carnegie Library also influenced him.

Frank published five collections of poetry, while his poems were published in various magazines and papers. He was actually in his 50s when he produced his first book of poetry. He had also been a playwright and wrote quite a few plays, including radio plays.

His contribution to the arts in Ireland was acknowledged with membership of Aosdána, an affiliation of creative artists in Ireland.

An avid reader, he read many books, while his interests also included botany, hill climbing and he was an animal lover. Anything to do with natural history was of interest to Frank, who was very keen on art. In his earlier years, he had greatly enjoyed the cinema.

Described as a very shy person, he is remembered as a very humble person, and he had been really compassionate. He retained his love of Fermanagh and he was engaged in poetry readings in the county in recent years. He read at the National Poetry Day reading in The Higher Bridges Gallery in October 2009 alongside Maria McManus, also a local Enniskillen poet.

Frank had a huge questioning mind all through his life and according to his family he read a huge amount on Philosophy and Theology that comes through in his poetry as well.

Following his funeral in St. Patrick’s Church, Donegal Town, on Monday, burial took place at the Convent Cemetery, where Frank wished to be buried in his parents’ grave. In 1972, when Gertrude died, Agnes Harvey kept a record of the graves on each side of the Harvey grave at the Convent Cemetery, and it was there that family and friends gathered for Monday afternoon’s short graveside ceremony, when the Fr. David Donnelly officiated, and tributes were paid to Frank and poems were recited. Faulkner Funeral Directors of Donegal looked after the funeral arrangements. Funeral Director John McKeegan assisted with arrangements in Enniskillen.

Keen geneaologist and local historian, Mr. Frankie Roofe, Enniskillen Townhall Superintendent, was asked for help to identify the position of the grave at the Convent graveyard and he was able to help the family locate it. The main Harvey plot is at Breandrum Cemetery. James Harvey died on December 20, 1918, aged 76, and he is buried at Breandrum; his widow Harriett, died in April 1919, aged 71, and she is also buried at Breandrum. According to family history, Frank was a son of Hamilton Morrison Harvey, who was born on August 7, 1887, in Belmore Street, Enniskillen; Hamilton was a son of James Harvey, a major contractor in the town, who originally came to Enniskillen with the Hughes firm from Co. Armagh, and James went on to complete the building of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Enniskillen.

From then on, he resided in Enniskillen and became a main contractor in Fermanagh. His building jobs included building the Townhall - 1897 to 1900. Other projects were the building of the original War Memorial in Enniskillen; the building of the Railway Station at Augher; the widening of the East Bridge, Enniskillen; and the building of the Church of Ireland at Castle Archdale, which is now over 100 years old. (Frank attended the 100th anniversary event.) Hamilton and his brother Thomas (James’s sons) became involved in the family firm. The Harvey family, a significant part of Enniskillen’s history, had been a big employer of local tradesmen.

Frank is survived by his wife and best friend Agnes, who had been a tremendous support to him over the years, and their five daughters, sons in law, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, the wider family circle and his many friends.