Funeral held for former Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin
Emotional scenes at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Emotional scenes at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann
ByDigital Staff
The funeral has taken place in north Belfast of former Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin.
Hundreds turned out to watch the cortège pass the club's Solitude ground following this morning's Requiem Mass at St Gerard's Church on the Antrim Road.
The 58-year-old died suddenly on August 7 during a holiday in Spain.
Mourners included comedian Tim McGarry, Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter, former Portadown manager Ronnie McFall, Linfield legend Glen Ferguson, and Sinn Féin MLAs Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín.
Nice wee sent off by @cliftonvillefc for cville legend Tommy Breslin plenty of Reds fans and ex players on show especially Tommy's League Double Winners #RIP ??? pic.twitter.com/fh0QvgDjFT
Mr Breslin led Cliftonville FC to eight trophies in four seasons while in charge.
His spectacular trophy tally included back-to-back Irish league titles in 2013 and 2014 before he stepped down in 2015.
An emotional Fr. Gary Donegan about to celebrate Tommy Breslin funeral mass at St. Gerard's Church in north Belfast reveals the ex-Cliftonville number 7 and greatest ever manager will be buried at Roselawn Cemetery beside another Northern Ireland football legend, George Best: pic.twitter.com/RXfGdyJ7Ry
He returned less than two years later when Gerard Lyttle resigned, taking charge in April 2017 for the remainder of the season.
Emotional scenes at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Emotional scenes at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Tim McGarry at the funeral of former Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Tim McGarry at the funeral of former Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Mourners at the funeral of former manager of Cliftonville Football Club as it passes the club ground. Picture by Mal McCann Mourners at the funeral of former manager of Cliftonville Football Club as it passes the club ground. Picture by Mal McCann A large group of fans await the funeral cortege of Tommy Breslin as it passes the club's football ground in north Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann A large group of fans await the funeral cortege of Tommy Breslin as it passes the club's football ground in north Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann Fr Gary Donegan (second right) and Jackie Fullerton (right) at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Fr Gary Donegan (second right) and Jackie Fullerton (right) at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Former Cliftonville player Marty Tabb at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Former Cliftonville player Marty Tabb at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Cliftonville chairman Gerard Lawlor at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Cliftonville chairman Gerard Lawlor at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Cliftonville’s Joe Gormley (centre) at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Cliftonville’s Joe Gormley (centre) at the funeral of Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Ballymena manager David Jeffrey at the funeral of former Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Ballymena manager David Jeffrey at the funeral of former Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín at the funeral of former Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín at the funeral of former Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin. Picture by Mal McCann
