Funeral held of stonemason who died at Athlone church

A stonemason who died while working at Athlone's Church of Saints Peter and Paul last Thursday has been described as "a great character and a genuinely nice guy." Tributes from people in Athlone were among those read out at the funeral of Willie McErlean, who was laid to rest in his native Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, on Monday. The highly-respected tradesman reportedly felt unwell on Thursday morning last. He was working with the Rainey Steeplejacks company on the restoration of the Athlone Church and was at the top of the right-hand (or Eastern) spire when he collapsed with a suspected heart attack shortly after 11.30am. His colleagues performed CPR in an attempt to resuscitate Mr McErlean, who was in his early 60s. Three ambulances and two units of the Athlone Fire Service attended the scene, and a large crane was used to carry him down from the Church spire at 12.30pm. On the ground, paramedics issued Mr McErlean with shocks and used a defibrillator, but the efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. His body was then removed to Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, and work at the Church stopped as a mark of respect. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week, Des Rainey, a Director with Rainey Steeplejacks, said Mr McErlean's death had come as a terrible shock. "I was just with him the day before it happened, and he was as fit as a fiddle. He didn't drink or smoke," said Mr Rainey. "He had worked with for about 30 years and was absolutely invaluable. He was like a member of the family." Asked to describe Mr McErlean as a person, he said: "He was a great character and a genuinely nice guy. He loved the GAA and travelled all over the country. "He was someone that you could rely on to show up on time every morning, and he worked with us on many different projects such as Blarney Castle and other projects in Galway and elsewhere. He will be sorely missed." A large crowd attended Mr McErlean's funeral in Dungannon on Monday. May he rest in peace.