BOURKE

BOURKE (Clondalkin) (First Anniversary) - The family and partner of the late John Paul Bourke would like to thank Rev. Fr John Wall P.P., Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clondalkin Village and Rev. Fr Nat Bourke (Montana, U.S.A.) for officiating at John's removal, funeral Mass and cremation service, on the sad occasion of John's death. John died tragically while competing in his second Manx Grand Prix Motor cycle race in the Isle of Man on September 1, 2005. John has now joined his sister Thérèse in everlasting peace. We wish to express our sincere appreciation to our relatives, friends and neighbours for their wonderful support. We are most grateful to those who thought of us, sent messages of sympathy, visited us, sent floral tributes and travelled to be with us. Above all, Masses offered for John are a great consolation. We thank those who took part in the funeral Mass, especially the readers of the Lessons and Prayers of the Faithful, those who took part in the Offertory procession and those who helped with the music. We thank Conor, John's childhood friend and next-door neighbour, whom John had asked to choose the music for his funeral. We thank Phil, John's friend in biking, who spoke so fittingly about John and lifted us all with a touch of humour. Both Conor and Phil did John proud despite being very upset. We reserve a special mention for Pat and Andy who were with John at the time of his passing and who assisted the family greatly. We shall be eternally grateful to the organisers of the Manx Grand Prix, the Ambulance Service and the staff of Nobles Hospital for their efforts. We thank Farragher Funeral Directors (I.O.M.) and Massey Funeral Directors in Clondalkin and the Coombe, Dublin for their services. We also thank the members of the Motorcycle Fraternity who have been wonderful to us. We have had messages of sympathy and Masses from bikers all over Ireland, the Isle of Man and England. Most particularly, we would like to thank the members of Clondalkin Motor Cycle Club for looking after John on the occasion of his death, for providing the Guard of Honour and for escorting John on his final journey. As John would say "keep it lit". John's First Anniversary Masses will be offered in the Church of Our Lady of The Apostles, Clonburris, Clondalkin on Saturday evening, September 2 at 7 o'clock and also in the Church of The Immaculate Conception, Clondalkin Village on Sunday evening, September 3 at 5.30 o'clock Masses will be offered in Clonburris and Clondalkin for all those who comforted us in our bereavement, on the following weekend.