THE village of Dromore said an emotional goodbye to one of its fondest community members this week as Canon Thomas Breen was laid to rest.

Originally from Tempo, the 83-year-old had served 33 years in the Parish of Dromore, during which time he had risen in office from curate to canon.

Ordained to the Priesthood in 1956 he served in the parishes of Bundoran, Clara, Aghavea, Cooneen/Brookeborough and Trillick before settling in Dromore.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at St Davog’s Church in the village on Tuesday for his Funeral Mass -- a church which he had played an instrumental role in bringing to fruition.

Businesses in the village closed on Tuesday as a mark of respect.

Following his death at South West Acute Hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning, he was taken to St. Patrick’s Hall in the village for a public wake.

“His wake was enormous -- it was extraordinary really,” Father Patrick MacEntee, Parish Priest, told the Impartial Reporter.

“He was a very simple, straight-forward man who was very good to the community here and everywhere else that he served.” Canon Breen’s funeral was conducted by the Bishop of Clogher, Liam MacDaid and also attended by the former Bishop Joseph Duffy and retired Bishops Edward Daly and Patrick Walsh.

Passionate about Gaelic Games, he was regularly seen on the sidelines at local matches.

Posting a number of pictures on their Facebook page on Monday this week, Dromore Gaelic Football Club paid tribite to a man whom they described as “one of our greatest supporters”.

“You will be sadly missed from the sideline,” read the post.

Sinn Fein councillor for the area, Glenn Campbell, said Canon Breen was an avid supporter of Dromore, St. Dympna’s GAC.

“He was a familiar sight cheering on the team from his own vantage point inside the wire,” said Mr. Campbell.

“Sometimes people attributed Dromore’s success not just to the prowess of the players - it was felt Canon Breen’s praying power done the team no harm.

“His voice was instantly recognisable both from the altar and while out amongst the Dromore community carrying out his pastoral duties. His voice was insightful and authoritative, yet humble and compassionate. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.” A Fermanagh man at heart, however, many often joked about how he was constantly tied between his loyalty to Dromore and his love for Tempo and Fermanagh GAA.

A poem in tribute to the local priest, penned by Omagh District councillor Pat McDonnell, recognised this.

And the councillor’s poetic tribute was included in an Order of Service for Canon Breen’s Funeral Mass on Tuesday.

Its lines include: “In the county of Tyrone, Among the Trillick football fans, He found himself at home. On wet and windy sidelines, He urged the reds along, Expressing thoughts about the ref, In language loud and strong. And then he came down to Dromore, And wore a different hue, Through the power of the lord, He changed from red to blue”.

Paying tribute to the man affectionately known as Father Tom, Mr. McDonnell said the parish of Dromore had lost a “figure of great significance”.

“He was a very highly regarded pastor in the church he served, but he was much more than that,” he said.

“His care for people extended beyond mere religious bounds and in truly biblical terms his neighbour was anyone and everyone he met. His instinct was to leave the 99 sheep (he would get back to them later) and check out the wandering lamb.” The SDLP councillor said he would be particularly remembered for the part he played in resolving potential conflict in Dromore over the issue of marching.

“In this far-sighted initiative, Father Tom forged a fruitful partnership with his local rector and it should be remembered that the detente could not have succeeded without brave and enlightened leadership from key figures in the loyal order.

“This remarkable contribution to the public sphere can be set along with many, many quiet, charitable and pastoral acts which he carried out and which are known only to God,” he added.

According to Fr. MacEntee, Canon Breen had a great talent in “connecting who was related to who everywhere”.

“The most telling thing I would say about him is that he had a lifelong deep and genuine interest in people -- he really had. People were a source of endless fascination to him in the one sense, and of concern in another.”