Bridie shouting ‘Bingo’ instead of ‘House’ because she was so overexcited, Bridie encouraging all five of the waynes to get in beside her in bed at the same time so that they could heat her back and her front, Bridie chasing us in a nylon nightie ’til we nearly peed ourselves. I thought my heart wouldn’t stand the pain. She would have just loved it: the company, the craic, the chocolate biscuits.

The funeral was the worst day. When O’Carolan had come to screw the lid on the coffin I felt a bit of myself slipping inside with Bridie. The rosary beads she had thrown aside so often wrapped now around her cold fingers for evermore. The tears could not be stemmed; the thought that I would no longer have her by my side was too much.

Mammy had sniffed and told me to offer it up; it wasn’t seemly for a grown woman with children of her own to be carrying on like a baby. Did I think she was going to live forever to coddle me? But it’s always the worst part when they disappear; you know it’s forever. Bridie had been wearing her favourite dress; every colour of the rainbow it was and all the brightness went out with her, feet first.

It rained so hard that we couldn’t walk the coffin to the end of the house; she went in the hearse all the way. The chapel was full to overflowing. I even spotted Doctor Dermot Darling Loughrey about halfway down the centre aisle. At John’s command I – and no other – was to grace the altar and do the first reading, Psalm 23, and the Responsorial Psalm, and when I looked up from the pulpit by mistake, it seemed that the whole townland was looking back.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.