Friends,  thank-you for sharing  this day with us to mark Fintan's passing and celebrate his life.

It goes without saying Fintan's love of us and admiration of his brother Declan and wife Sarah and Granddad (with whom he shared his love/contempt of the Sharks V Broncos or any other team) This was paramount in his life. He lived for Declan and Sarah's  children Jackson and one week old Madelyn. It is  so sad that Sarah and Madelyn are unable to be present with us,  due to lack of immunisation at such a tender age. So many others are precluded from attending Fintan's farewell, most notable being the Irish family and especially Auntie Marie, Fintan's God-mother, for whom the 24/48 hour visa delays and compounding travel time,  prevented her being c here. The family in Ireland composed the Prayers of the Faithful in order to feel part of the Fintan's Mass  today.

It is so difficult to fill Fintan's almost 35  years and his full and busy life. So many are  aware, of both his challenges and achievements. I can but touch on some over 5 pages. Much tears before and no doubt after, but I will endeavour to employ as much self control as I can muster  to allow you to hear my thoughts. Throughout  his years learning to cope with the life-tasks at hand, be they family based like crawling sitting walking etc milestones way behind the norm, or closing the gap later at school and University and ultimately his work-life, so many sought to ease the passage for him. 

You all know who you are.

Help came from many sources. From simple things being created by TAD, such as an electric elevating desk at St Anthonys, to breaking ground,  being able to pass the all  Autocad modules at TAFE so he could fulfil requirements for the Senior Graphics Subject. Little did we realise then  that nearly 20 years later he would draw upon these skills to draft our last house and plan its garden. He was the brains, designer and critic of the physical work I was instructed to undertake. Knowing all the latin names of of the palms an cycads, the fruit trees and vegetables were selected, placed and grown with his advice and consultation.

His long time school mates Russell, Andrew, Steve have never forgotten him and always returned to us as we all moved houses and our lives developed.

Post his being made the inaugural winner of the 1998 London Childnet International Awards, he found himself at Central Queensland University studying and then eventually working full time  in the web development area. Initially we thought Fintan might manage a half time study load but pushing himself,  he not only completed the full time load with credits and distinctions but with his ability being recognised, was also asked to work on web design for 15 hrs a week in the Business Faculty, after a few months at Uni.

Fintan's professional life lasted 17 years at CQU and he coped with all the restructures and changes from under his first boss Arthur Cleary  through to his last equally helpful boss Mark Western who approved Fintan working from home on  Wednesdays (or days of choice)  giving some midweek  respite for both Anne myself and Fintan.

His immediate web team,  without doubt,  contributed to his being able to work till he died. It was a happy environment where he thrived and while there are many, Darren Atkinson should be recognised as his mate that really selflessly undertook  so many little personal duties that we are sure ultimately extended Fintan's home and work life. Having very limited movement, he had to use an elevated desk,  trackball/virtual keyboard for coding and the micro adjustments of elbows, wheelchair etc were constant necessities.  

So many people shared touched and extended Fintan's life and it would be remiss not to mention Dr James Douglas Thoracic  Specialist @ Prince Charles Hospital Brisbane as well as Dr Tom Conaghan who had known  and treated Fintan for all his life.

When the CQU work-mates saw Fintan off on Friday for his 2 week holiday to see his new week-old niece Madelyn, it was they who wished him the best, with the comment "see ya in 2 weeks , the work will still be waiting for you" 

On the personal side of Fintan's life, he was quite an enigma. I don't think he had any  real concept of his value to others, to whom he was not only an  inspiration but as well as a resource  being a able to solve some of their tech problems. If he did not know, terrier-like,  he searched the web till the problem was sorted.  His daylight working-hours took an increasing toll and he found his rest most nights by 8pm, where upon resting on his back in his adjustable bed he enjoyed the company of his bed-partners Jerry and Gracie, his much loved little Griffen dog whilst listening to audiobooks or any of the latest dubious Vampire fare, as well as our mutually watched Justified, Billions and Viking series being offered by Netflix or Stan. The morning saw his precious Gracie undertake her self-appointed task of licking/cleaning  around his face after his mask removal, when Fintan was very sure to have his mouth closed. After work, Gracie was waiting to jump up on Fintan's footplates to lick/tickle  is freshly unsoxed and obviousflavoursome feet and toes. Such was their co-dependence.

He was always wrapped up in travel and holidays, be it around the world as stop-overs on the way to Anne's home in Ireland or going to other exotic locations memorable to him,  more than a dozen times. This all changed 4 years ago as Fintan could not cope with flying any more and cruising came to the fore.  Throughout,  he was highly involved in the planning of these  adventures. Accepting of his increasing limitations, he was happy to make the best of what was thrown at him and changed his time/place perspectives.

Interest-wise, and a goal never far away, was acquiring the best of high tech toys, be it computer related, home theatre interests, fixing his Dad's website problems, or the very  latest this month , getting his Mum/ Anne thermo-mixing, organising her social media community and WIFI  recipes etc. Totally selfless as you realise,  for the last 2 years Fintan couldn't  have a normal diet of solids and was totally dependent on a liquid died not wanting a peg feed. Never the less, he wanted us fed well and insisted the steps were followed correctly with this new fangled machine and then the requested dinner-plate inspection and sometime even a tongue taste for criticism that we all know, he was so well capable of.

A wicked sense of humour eminated from Fintan when he could easily be excused for an occasional Why me? attitude, which was never discerned . He was just too busy being the organiser of events and people especially on the home front. He kept us with quite some rigour to his timetable,  e.g.  eating, bathing, dressing, head-scratching, loading/unloading into the van, viewing videos, listening to audiobooks, setting him up to communicate at the computer etc 

Opinionated amongst friends, he was a strident commentator on current real world trends and also somewhat comfortably cynical of the Federal/State political environment. Few would have read the local Livingston Shire Council minutes befor Fintan. He contended with a lot,  and when he heard of complaints on living by unknown others, he was less than charitable.  

Brutally realistic, Fintan did not want to be a token participant in wheelchair sports etc. He knew what he was capable of to enjoy life and be of assistance to others. 

He could also be very generous  with his treatment of others, as when once asked by a new friend to be, when we arrived in Lammermoor, "Do you work in a sheltered workshop?" He was humble and laughed with great mirth when some may have been offended.

Practical jokes were his stock and trade, the latest occurred at work amongst colleagues and those involved knew his style and this particular setup. A dark sense was not entirely absent from the Real household, very often as a coping mechanism. Fintan frequently told his Mum that he believed she wanted him to die over his keyboard at work, and the standard reply was well " Be sure not to make it on a Thursday, as that's the day I play Bridge"

He had one of best theatre systems about and was critical of older non-digital commercial presentations. Recent weeks saw him relent and he actually went to the movies to see the latest Star Wars offering when I detected a wry smile on his face.

As Princess Laya said to the dying hero "You're a good man Fin" and how perfectly this line was tailored to our Fintan.

We hope many will have the time to spend with us after Fintan's Mass to celebrate his life,  and share your stories.

 

and now ++++++++++++++++++++++++++