09/03/2026
A tribute to my Father Roy Arbuckle now resting in peace, created from his songs and lyrics.
I had to say good bye and I will never be the same with out you in my life.. but I feel you all around me, I’ve felt you and seen you in the sun rays and daffodils.
I felt you behind me supporting me as if you were in every move I made and every word I spoke ❤️ you sang to us all my whole life and we sang by your side as you passed on to the other world.
We sang all day for you and I will keep singing for the rest of my life because you will be in every note and every beat, supporting me the way you always have.
I didn’t need to be anything but your son, you were always proud of me ❤️
To my family and friends who came to our side in such a powerful and beautiful way, I can’t thank you enough.. it meant so much to feel, witness and experience your love and support.
I see it in my family and friends but I also see it in our culture and how we as a people on this island weave together a blanket of comfort protection and love all around the family in this ceremony and process of saying goodbye to a loved one.
Every hug and kiss, every caressing hand or arm that came to hold ours.
Every round of tea, sambos and buns that came into the living room every 20 minutes, every candle that was lit, every prayer that was said. Every song sung, every poem spoken and everyone all in one place feeling everything for all of us and for Roy.
Ár n-oidhreacht shaibhir (our rich heritage)
We had the honour of having the ceremony in the Guildhall.
This was a beautiful privilege and we are so thankful for Alison and the staff in the Guildhall who were so amazing and supportive from start to finish making it all happen for us.
To the staff of Funeral directors Adair and Nealey, especially Mark we will be forever grateful for your professionalism and dedication to getting everything done and taking care of it all.
The staff at Altnigalvin, The surgeons at the royal and staff of the icu, we will forever be grateful for how well you treated Roy and were dedicated to keeping his dignity and comfort at all times.
To our celebrant Sam Hanna, thank you for being the link and guide through our all our tributes and you prayers by the grave side.
The support and love from every one has been overwhelming with such kind and beautiful tributes to my Father. From BBC Radio Foyle to news papers, YouTube videos and countless other wonderful tributes we have yet to see.
We are all so grateful for how we have been held by you all in this time of great sadness for the mythical and legendary hero that is my father, Roy Arbuckle ❤️
With grátitude
Robert
