IN MEMORIAM
The voyages of
Brendan
BRENDAN WOODS GAVE THE PERFORMANCE OF A LIFETIME AT HIS OWN FUNERAL. THE DUBLIN BORN (JANUARY 11, 1947) ENTERTAINER PROVIDED MOST OF THE ENTERTAINMENT AND SOUNDTRACK FOR HIS OWN SEND-OFF AT KARRAKATTA CEMETERY ON JULY 12. A poignant video rendition of ‘Never Too Old To Be Young’ sung by Brendan set the tone for the occasion, which saw many of his friends and family gather to pay their respects. Marian Byrne was celebrant and old friends Frank Murphy and Mick Murray gave touching and fond tributes to their deceased mate. Fr Greg Donovan led a prayer and blessing for him. Brendan appeared in sound and vision again with lovely versions of ‘My Blue Eyed Galway Girl’ and ‘The Cry of the Dreamer’. “Brendan was definitely a Character with a capital C,” said Marion, who has known him since she and her husband Niall came to Perth. “Actually I don’t think any Irish person living in Perth for the last 30 odd years could not have known Brendan Woods. He was 66 | THE IRISH SCENE
a showman and loved an audience, which accounts for the fact that he welcomed you in here today himself on screen. He will entertain you during this service and he will also sing himself out of here at the end of this service. So how lucky are we! Brendan loved to make other people laugh and even though he went through ups and downs in life, a smile was never far from his face. With Brendan you got what you saw, there was no pretence.” Marion read the aptly named poem ‘When I Come To The End Of My Journey’ from the John Boyle O’Reilly Memorial in New York. With brother Ken by his side, son Alan Woods gave their father’s eulogy. “Let me start by saying that my Dad was no saint, he had his demons which he fought every day and sometimes he won the battle; and sometimes he didn’t - which didn’t make life easy for him or for the people that loved him. He inherited his love of music from his parents Rose and Robert (Bob) Woods – Rose played the violin (she was from Ougterard in County Galway). Bob was from County Wicklow and played the drums and the piano accordion; he was also part of a marching band. So Dad grew up in a house full of music and of course there were many sessions to be enjoyed by all. Bob was also a professional footballer and Dad inherited his love of football and all things sport from him. Before leaving Ireland he had a couple of businesses - music shops selling musical instruments and all things music. He was
