Colin Farrell delivers emotional tribute at father's funeral - 'Thanks for being my dad'

Colin Farrell paid a tearful tribute to his late father, Eamon Farrell, during his funeral Mass in Dublin on Saturday morning. The former Shamrock Rovers player died on Wednesday

Irish acting legend Colin Farrell couldn't hold back the tears as he paid an emotional tribute to his father at his funeral service in Dublin on Saturday morning.

Eamon Farrell, who was 83, passed away on Wednesday following a lengthy illness, surrounded by his loved ones and the Whitworth Ward staff at Beaumont Hospital in the Irish capital. The entrepreneur, known for running Health Matters and being an ex-player for Shamrock Rovers, was remembered lovingly in his online obituary on RIP.ie as the cherished husband of Eileen, the "loving father" of adult children Eamon, Catherine, Claudine and Colin, and the caring brother of the late Tommy, Maureen and Sean.

The funeral ceremony took place at the Church of Our Lady of Victories on Ballymun Road, with Deacon Derek Leonard and Fr. Frank Reburn officiating the service. Towards the end of the Mass, a visibly moved Colin Farrell went up to the podium to read a poem called The Ship before offering a tearful eulogy to his dad.

He said, "I am so glad you were dad. I know we had our tricky times but now all I remember are the good times. One of those good times I remember was when I was five years-old sitting on your knee wearing my spiderman pyjamas playing with my stretchy incredible hulk toy. I think I had hurt my lip at school or something and I was telling you about it - I felt so safe and loved - that memory is so vivid to me now, dad."

The thrice Golden Globe winner honored the nurses and caregivers who attended to his father during the final year and months of life, thrilled that his dad got to experience him becoming a father and visiting him Stateside. He fondly recalled his Dublin drinking days, sharing an endearing story, "I remember when I used to go out drinking in Dublin, I used to go to bars where all the old fellas would be drinking just so I could tell them you were my dad. They would always say 'he was a great player' or 'he had a lovely touch'. I was so proud hearing that, dad."

According to the Irish Mirror, the star reflected on the duality of loss, saying, "Death asks us to do two contradictory things at the same time. One is to learn to let go and the other is to hold on. I will hold you with the rest of my life dad. You did it, Eamo. Thanks for your love. Thanks for the memories. And thanks for being my dad."

The notice announcing Eamon's death earlier this week read the former Shamrock Rovers player "passed peacefully, after a long illness bravely borne, in the loving care of his family and the excellent staff of the Whitworth Ward. Beloved husband of Eileen, loving father of Eamon, Catherine, Claudine and Colin and beloved brother of the late Tommy, Maureen and Sean."

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It continued, "Sadly missed by Rita, step-children William, Keith, Sandra, Aidan, Deborah, Karl, Ciarán and Gary, grandchildren James, Ellen, Henry, Stella and Oscar, in-laws and partners, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbors and friends."

Penguin star Colin previously paid tribute to his father and growing up in his native Ireland. Colin said, "I was the baby, so I got away with more. My parents weren't as hawkeyed with me and I think my older brother got the brunt of it and my sisters a little less." He added, "They will all tell you I had the easiest time, but I don't think it was because I was the favorite, I think just as a result of my parents' fatigue!"

He also spoke of his dad's football career in the sixties before moving on to other ventures. "Dad played football till he was 26 or 27," he said. "After that he owned a fish-and-chip shop by a golf course, The Little Chip Inn. Honest to God. He never let us forget the wit of that. Then he had a restaurant. He has a health-food store in Dublin called Down To Earth."

Colin also referred to his family during his winners speech at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in February. The star won the Best Male Actor gone for his role in The Penguin and said on stage, "Thanks to my mum, Rita, my dad, Eamon, and the two people in my life who have made my life so much more special and so much more meaningful, so much more joyful than I ever truly thought possible - my son James and my son, Henry."

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