There was widespread sadness at the news spread of the passing of Francis Long of Kiltrogue. Francis was the eldst of the Long family and he lived with his brother Mick and his wife Pat and their family at the family home.
Francis was a gifted and talented person. He could turn his hand to anything. He was a man with a great wit and sense of humour, and a man with tremendous patience in carrying out his work. He was always interested in repairing and working with small parts. In gardening and such tasks he as as tasty as one could find and was never satisfied with a job half done.
Francis Long could be aptly described as a perfectionist. However a skill that Francis Long never trained in but became a supreme master was at art. His paintings adorned several public buildings over many years. He did a masterpiece of the Copper Beach, Turloughmore that hung in the snug in the Lounge Bar. He did a portrait that proudly adorned the Central Tavery, Loughgeorge for many years of local character Derby. Francis did a wonderful portrait of former Lackagh School principal Joe Collins and his late wife Mar, what was presented to Joe on his retirement from teaching.
Pride of place of the work of Francis Long is the portrait of former Lackagh Parish priest the late Fr. Michael Lyons, that hans proudly in Turloughmore Social Centre since the meeting room was dedicated the Fr. Michael Lyons room, as a tribute to the former chairman of the Development committee who led the building of the facility at Lackagh.
Francis Long was a kind, gentle and friendly person who was held in high esteem throughout the community. Evidence of that was clearly demonstrated as his remains were brought by his home as people gathered outside their homes to pay respect.
Due to the Colvid 19 guidelines, people could not attend the funeral as attendees are now restricted to ten persons, people of the area showed their respect for Francis through the guards of honour that assembled as the remains made its way to the church and his final resting place.
Following the celebration of Mass that was held privately in the Church of Our Lady of Knock, Lackagth, Francis was laid to rest with his parents and brother in Lackagh cemetery.
Francis is survived by his brothers Mick and Paddy, sisters Nellie and Maura, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
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