HEARTFELT TRIBUTES: Christy Moore and Daniel O’Donnell Share Fond Memories of Comedy Legend Brendan Grace Ahead of Funeral
Dublin, Ireland — Two of Ireland’s most beloved musicians, Christy Moore and Daniel O’Donnell, have shared moving and lighthearted memories of their dear friend, the late Brendan Grace, as the nation prepares to say goodbye to one of its most cherished entertainers.
The legendary comedian, singer, and actor passed away on Thursday in Galway at the age of 68, following a short battle with lung cancer. His funeral will take place at The Church of St. Nicholas of Myra in Dublin’s Liberties, where hundreds are expected to gather to honor the man affectionately known as Ireland’s “Grandmaster of Comedy.”
Speaking to RTÉ Radio One, Christy Moore, 74, recalled the joy and laughter Brendan brought wherever he went. “He was fantastic company,” Christy said fondly. “A great singer, too — he could burst into song at any minute.”
Christy reminisced about touring with Brendan in Australia, where his friend’s humor was as endless as his appetite. “We were at a buffet one night,” he said, laughing. “There were plates — small, medium, large — and then there was Brendan. He went straight for a tray! The locals didn’t know what to make of him. But that was Brendan — full of life, always making people laugh.”
He also revealed that Brendan was the first to check in on him after he suffered a heart scare years ago. “He was the first one to ring me in hospital, asking if I had enough money,” Christy smiled. “That was Brendan — generous, thoughtful, and hilarious all at once.”
Though the two drifted apart in later years, Christy spoke of his friend with deep affection. “We were close through the 1980s and 1990s,” he said. “We got on well, and I will remember him with great love.”
Daniel O’Donnell, who first met Brendan in the early 1990s, also shared his own treasured memory — one that perfectly captured the comedian’s mischievous charm. “We lived around the corner from each other in Redgap, Co. Dublin,” Daniel said. “One Sunday morning after a gig at The Point, I noticed fans from England at my gate taking pictures. Then I saw someone bowing up and down like they’d seen the Messiah — it was Brendan!”
Daniel laughed as he described the scene. “I don’t know if he was passing by or had planned it, but he knew exactly how to make people laugh. That was his gift — he could turn any moment into comedy.”
The Donegal crooner also spoke warmly of Brendan’s friendship with his mother. “He loved her pancakes,” Daniel said. “Even after I moved away, he would still call in when he was in Donegal, and she’d whip out the pan and make some for him. He was a very kind man — always thinking of others.”
Brendan Grace leaves behind his beloved wife Eileen, children Amanda, Melanie, Bradley, and Brendan Patrick, and grandchildren James, Patrick, and Aiden. His family described him as “Ireland’s beloved entertainer, Liberty Boy, and Grandmaster of Comedy,” whose laughter and kindness touched every corner of the country.
Tomorrow’s funeral is expected to be a celebration of a life that brought joy to millions — a farewell filled with the humor, music, and warmth that defined Brendan Grace.
As Christy Moore beautifully summed up: “Brendan made the world lighter just by being in it. He’ll be missed — but never forgotten.”