Hundreds of people turned out to pay their final respects to west Belfast man Jim McKee.
The 81-year-old, who was chairman of Immaculata Football Club, passed away after being struck by a car last Saturday.
Described as a hero of his community, he was from the Grosvenor Road area.
Players and officials from Immaculata FC were among the mourners at requiem mass in St Peter’s Cathedral this morning.
At the family’s request, many mourners were dressed in the blue of his football club.
In his homily, Fr Martin Graham said no words could do justice to the impact that Mr McKee made in his community.
“But the crucial thing for us to remember is that Jim McKee’s life was a life well lived,” he said.
“And his legacy of faith and family and football will endure for a long, long time. Jim’s greatest legacy lives on in his family.”
Mourners were told how Mr McKee’s energy and his enthusiasm helped guide young people in their journeys.
“And even as the years passed, his love for the young never dimmed,” Fr Graham said.
“His total and utter commitment and support for the Immaculata football team wasn’t just about sport. It was about community. It was about showing up for the next generation.
“It was about being present in the lives of young people who need to know that someone cares about their efforts and celebrates their achievements.
“And, as far as Jim was concerned, he could be a wee bit vocal, guldering from the sidelines and arguing with referees when things weren’t going in the right direction.
“When the club won the Intermediate Cup at Windsor Park, the players were surrounding Jim, dancing and cheering as Jim held up the trophy.
“And this was genuinely the greatest image his family witnessed because they saw the love and the respect shown to Jim that night. And they said he’ll never be forgotten.
“It’s particularly poignant that Jim was on his way home from watching his beloved team play when he passed away.
“In many ways, it does capture the man he was: A man who showed up, a man who supported others, a man who found joy in his community.
“Even at 81, he was there cheering on the young athletes, being part of something bigger than himself.
“And, of course, that extended to the not-so-young. He used to run a bus to bring the pensioners to mass here. And, until not long ago, he called the bingo at St Peter’s lunch club.”
His total and utter commitment and support for the Immaculata football team wasn’t just about sport, it was about community
Fr Graham said Mr McKee embodied the spirit of Christian support through his faithful service to the Society of St Vincent de Paul.
“Sunday after Sunday, he stood at the back of the cathedral, not seeking recognition or praise, but simply doing what his heart told him was right – helping us care for those most in need in our community,” he said.
“Through that box in his hands passed countless donations that would go to feed the hungry, to clothe the poor and to comfort the suffering.”
Fr Graham referred to Mr McKee’s advancing years and declining health.
He recalled: “The kids started to realise that they may not have much time left with him, be it weeks, months or within a year, but they were determined that they were going to fill it with memories.
“So just last week, they had a day trip down to Bundoran to celebrate (granddaughter) Fiadh’s birthday. Now games at Parkhead were special, but this day topped them all.
“They had never seen Jim smile as much as he did last Tuesday as he talked about his memories at Bundoran, as they talked about his Uncle Davy, among many other family and friends.
“But the family sat around together and he didn’t stop smiling once.
“His son reached in his hand, kissed him on the head and told him that he loved him.
“But Jim knew that already – Jim knew what he meant to his family. And his family know exactly what Jim meant to them.
“While we may struggle to understand why Jim’s season came to an end so suddenly, so unexpectedly, we hold fast to our faith that his seasons and his times were always in God’s hands.”
The accident which claimed Mr McKee’s life happened in the Genoa Street area at about 11.20am last Saturday, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a tribute last weekend, Immaculata FC said it was “absolutely heartbroken”.
The club described him as a “dedicated volunteer, coach, manager, chairman, supporter, friend and mentor – a true pillar of our club” and “a community hero in the truest sense”.
Following the service, burial took place in Milltown Cemetery.
