Colin Farrell's father dies after long illness

Olivia Kelleher

The death has occurred following “a long illness bravely borne” of Eamon Farrell, the father of Oscar nominated actor Colin Farrell.

The former proprietor of Health Matters, and one time Shamrock Rovers player, passed away peacefully on Wednesday in the care of his family and the staff of the Whitworth Ward in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.

Mr Farrell, who was in his eighties, is described in his death notice as having been the "beloved" husband of Eileen, the “loving father” of his adult children Eamon, Catherine, Claudine and Colin and the “beloved brother” of the late Tommy, Maureen and Sean.

He will also be sadly missed by the mother of his children Rita, his eight step children, his five grandchildren, his extended family, neighbours and friends.

Mr Farrell told The Herald newspaper in December 2015 that he had proposed to his partner Eileen Pollard. He joked that both of his knees were “wrecked from football” so he “couldn’t go down on bended knee".

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He said that the pair had met through mutual friends and that it was “wonderful” to have so much to look forward to late in life. The couple got married in the summer of 2016.

Meanwhile, Golden Globe winning actor Colin once wrote a poem to his father for a charity book called Sons and Fathers. The book was in aid of the Irish Hospice Foundation.

Mr Farrell, who was formerly of Castleknock in Dublin, will lie in repose at his home in Glasnevin on Friday evening from 6pm to 8pm.

His funeral mass will take place at 10am on Saturday at the Church of Lady of Victories on Ballymun Road. It will be followed by cremation at Glasnevin Crematorium. Both services can be viewed online.