A PACKED church near Drogheda, Co Louth recently said goodbye to one of their native sons when Fintan Branigan (1950-2015) was laid to rest.

This most modest of men had fought long and hard against his illness, supported by his wife Margaret, son Stephen and daughters Susan and Audrey. His 10 grandchildren gave him great pleasure in recent times after his beloved Crosstown herd had been greatly reduced in number and its founder, Crosstown Dancer, died in 2013.