Funeral mass hears photographer was 'solid bloke' who loved his family dearly
Mick sadly died aged 62 on July 12 after a motorcycle accident on the Old Airport Road in north Dublin. The talented photographer worked for the Irish Mirror and Irish Daily Star for over 20 years, and is dearly missed by all his colleagues.
His funeral mass took place at the Church of St Finian's in Swords on Monday morning, followed by burial in Dardistown Cemetery. A motorcycle helmet, press photographer awards and a photo of Mick and his beloved granddaughter Mya, 12, were brought to the altar as gifts.
Mourners heard that Mick, who was from Artane but lived in Swords, was a 'proud Dubliner' who was happiest when on his bike or with his family. His granddaughter Mya told the funeral Mass that he would do anything to make her happy, and was immensely proud of her.
She said: 'Grandad wasn't only my grandad, he was my best friend, we had such a strong bond. I'm not sure if he just liked breakfast or if it was an excuse to call me because every time he did it would be the same question- 'Do you want to go for breakfast?'
'Grandad always liked to keep his little princess happy, if I had a problem he would solve it. He was always so proud, he would make it out that whatever I did no one had ever done before.
"He did everything to keep me happy, he went all over Ireland to find Uggs for me for Christmas. We loved to eat chocolate together so if he was to buy me a gift that's what he could get but sometimes all I got was a photo.' Mick O'Neill is carried to his final resting place following his funeral on Monday morning. (Image: Collins Photos) Photographers form a guard of honour at the funeral of Irish Mirror photographer, Mick O'Neill. (Image: Collins Photos)
Mick is dearly missed by Mya, his son Karl, Karl's partner Vicky and mother Lorraine, brothers Terry and Owen and sisters Ann and Helena. On behalf of the family, Mick's close friend Noel Fay thanked everyone for their support, and the emergency service and hospital staff that helped him after the tragic accident.
Paying tribute to his dear friend during the mass, Noel said: 'Mick was a solid bloke, when you became his friend, you stayed his friend. I never heard him say a bad word about anyone, he had a great respect for people. He was well-liked because of his modesty, subtle sense of humour and his professional approach to his work.
'Everybody here has some memorable and funny stories of Mick but he wasn't perfect and he had his flaws. Mick was always early, it was so annoying. He was never late and I hated that. As for his antique phone, iPhone 1 I think. Everybody pleaded with him to get a new one.
'When at any restaurant he would try and order the most obscure things that weren't on the menu. But he loved his sticky buns.' On behalf of Crime Correspondent Mick O'Toole and his colleagues, Noel told the mass that he was 'a mentor and friend to dozens of reporters over the years'.
He added: '(Mick) would treat a homeless person with the same respect he would give to the president. He had a unique way of putting interviewees and people he was photographing at ease. His humour, energy, dedication and sense of decency all made a reporter's job easier. Pictured from left to right, Irish Mirror photographer, Mick O'Neill with Irish Mirror journalists Paul Healy and Michael O'Toole. Michael Kelley seen here on Michael Gaine's farm near Kenmare Co Kerry. (Image: Exclusive Image: Mick O'Neill/Daily Mirror)
'He travelled all over the world with his job, often on risky assignments. Some of the countries he went to included Peru, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Mauritius, India, Dubai and Spain. All of his colleagues are devastated by his loss, he is irreplaceable.'
Mick was a renowned news photographer in Ireland and won multiple awards for his incredible photos that no one else managed to snap. Mourners heard that the Dubliner would wait for hours to get the perfect shot, and was always highly professional when it came to his work.
Noel continued: 'With Mick, he was always the happiest when he was out on the bike with the lads. It was only when sharing a pint with Mick that you would get the full story about his work and his achievements. The problem was his modesty starved you of his news and you had to drag it out of him. Some of his stories were so outrageous but they were all true.
'I remember a few months ago I was trying to get Mick on the phone over the course of a few days, but each time I got no answer so I guessed that he was away or busy working. The next day I saw that famous dramatic photo on the front page of The Star of the guy with a big axe in his hands regarding the missing Kerry farmer Michael Gaine.
'It then made sense to me why I couldn't get him on the phone. The photograph was by Mick O'Neill, exclusive image for the Star and Mirror. There he was doing what he does best, making the news. But today my friends, in a sad way, Mick is the news.'
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