'My heart is shattered' - family pay moving tribute as devoted dad Michael Grant is laid to rest in Waterford

A sea of Mount Sion’s GAA and St Joseph’s AFC blue filled the Holy Family Church in Waterford city on Saturday morning for the funeral mass of the late Michael Grant, who passed away suddenly while on holidays in Spain.

Michael, of Pinewood Avenue, Hillview, and formerly of Morrison’s Road, had thousands of people pay tribute to him as the news of his death devastated the local community and those involved in the sporting community nationwide.

Fr Gerry Langford addressed the congregation, noting that although nobody wanted to be there, they had to be there, for Michael was a man who contributed so much to the community and the people who gathered to celebrate Michael were an “indication of the high esteem that Michael and his family are held in this community”.

Fr Langford also told those present how important it is that everyone keeps going when times get tough. He said, “Life can be difficult,” but Michael “helped the players out, not just on the field, but in their everyday life as well.” 

“Confidence,” he added, is something Michael tried to teach them all, that you “should never give up on your dreams, even when you’re tired of losing, keep going, and never give up.” 

An indication as to how much Michael loved his job as a physiotherapist was that laughter would always be heard from his clients, almost as a holistic approach to healing.

“He was the best dad ever,” said Michael’s daughter, Niamh. “Everything he done was for his family.” 

Niamh joked about how her late dad, who idolised his family, didn’t give anyone else a look in once his star player, Shay, “came along and replaced us all.”

Also speaking to those who gathered for her husband Michael’s funeral mass, his wife Leanne told those present how, “the pain was so bad at first it felt like I couldn’t breathe”. She went on to paint a picture of the man she made many memories with over the years as a person with a big love for his own family and his sporting family, adding that he loved to talk and joked about how he did everything for his family, “outside of DIY”. 

Leanne said, “We loved to laugh together… and to our four beautiful children, my heart is shattered for your loss.” 

James Manning described how this devastating time was very difficult for Michael’s friends, as he was usually the one they’d talk to if there was something bothering them. 

“Michael was the most trustworthy, reliable person you could meet… He had time for everybody and wanted nothing in return.

“Michael’s unwavering spirit and passion will remain forever in our hearts,” added James, a long-term friend, who had people imagining Michael give his best rendition of Meatloaf or Garth Brooks. Similarly Leanne described him in the same way, only she focused more on his dancing skills, that she thought he was dancing to a different song in his head.

Mount Sion GAA Club’s Eoin Fanning spoke of how Michael had influenced young players, boys and girls over his many years of coaching in Waterford, something that was made very apparent to Eoin as he read through the condolences and saw how many messages were written by those young players he coached.

“It was incredible to witness the impact he had, even on complete strangers. One person said that ‘Michael took the weight out of life’, so he did,” Eoin said.

“Another called Michael a beautiful soul, but as I read on, I began to notice those familiar names, boys, Bobby and Tommy appeared, then Logan. These were children Michael coached. Logan wrote from himself and his little brother, "thank you for all the memories, we will miss you" and Tommy’s mam said they all "adored" him. That’s impact,” he continued.

Describing the time when Michael wanted to resurrect the St Joseph’s Juvenile Academy, Eoin said he was very apprehensive about the idea, as he didn’t want to lose players to another club, but “Mickey Grant was like the pied piper – he played a tune and the kids followed him.

“Mickey pulled off something extraordinary, he drove two academies with two codes, and he gave himself totally to both… Michael Grant was an incredible coach because he was an incredible person. He had the respect of the children, the coaches, and the parents. That's a rare gift,” added Eoin.

St Joseph's also paid tribute from the altar, as Billy Flynn read out a poem describing his friend 'Granter' of over 20 years and the impact he had on Waterford in his time as a coach and as a dad, husband and friend. 

It was Michael and Leanne's first-born, Kayley, who brought everyone to their feet as she shared her heartbreaking words with them all. 

"You are my hero, you are my home, my safe place and my protector in this world," she began. 

"Your love and guidance has shaped me into the girl I am today in ways that I can never fully express... You were taken from us too soon and I never got the chance to give all that love back to you for all you did for us. We just thought we had a lifetime left," said Kayley. 

"It makes me feel so angry, "Kayley continued, "But Dad, I know in my heart the pain and the sadness felt by all in this room doesn't even compare to the pain you feel in your heart for not being here to love, support, protect, care and be there for your family. 

"Dad I want you to know it's ok. I want you to know I want you to feel peace in your heart. You didn't deserve this. 

"You're so generous, thoughtful and caring and the sacrifices you've made for us and the strength you've always shown is and will always be a true inspiration. 

"It was so easy to love you... We will continue to make you so proud, to carry your legacy and everything we do will be for you. We know you will be there every step of the way, on every sideline, in our home and in our hearts forever."

Michael is deeply mourned and forever loved by his wife Leanne, four children Kayley, Niamh, Shay and Sofia, his parents Michael (Sam) and Marie (Grant), sisters Jeannette, Deborah and Deirdre, brothers and best friends Brian and Alan, his parents-in-law Luke and Tina (Nolan), brothers-in-law Les and Shane, Shane’s wife Trish, sisters-in-law Lilian, Sinead and Catherine, Catherine’s partner Gordon.

Always remembered and forever loved by his 10 nieces and nephews, godchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family, relatives, neighbours and his wide circle of wonderful friends.