Popular photographer laid to rest today

Sean McMahon

There was widespread sadness and shock in Cootehill and across County Cavan with the news that talented photographer Brian Mulligan had died in Forli, Italy last Wednesday evening. His funeral took place today. 

The 79-year-old, who worked with distinction for The Anglo-Celt for over 40 years, was making a pilgrimage on the Camino way in Italy, when the accident happened. It's understood that he fell down a ten metre incline on the edge of the two meter wide pilgrimage path, and died as a result of the injuries sustained.
His son David Mulligan told The Anglo-Celt that the edge of the path is quite broken up where he fell.
“It appears he lost his footing and fell and died in the fall,” he said. He had been walking for two days when the accident happened, after which the alarm was raised.
Firefighters and the police immediately began a search for Brian, but were forced to stop with nightfall. The search resumed on Thursday morning and his remains were discovered shortly after 10.30am.
“He lived life by his own terms,” David Mulligan said of his late father.

“He had an awful lot of passions, including his photography involvement with the Celt and interaction with the local community. He felt honoured and privileged that he could do that kind of work – as much as loving the work, he loved the people that the work brought him in contact with and the craic.”
He also loved capturing weddings and “recording local life”, explained David Mulligan. Brian also took news photos for all the national papers and loved covering football matches and all sporting events. Brian also covered Holy Communions, Confirmations and portraits at his studio at Main Street, Cootehill. 
He met and photographed all the politicians including Charlie Haughey, who he knew by name.
Brian had travelled over to Italy a few days in advance of the pilgrimage and visited his son, Kenneth, in Bologna before he headed off on the bus to Forli on Monday, where the Camino de Santiago walk commences and goes over the mountains as far as Florence. An enthusiastic cyclist, Brian Mulligan had cycled the Camino Way in Spain previously, according to his son David in Dublin.
Over the past couple of years Brian would enjoy the walk out to the Errigal County House Hotel most days to join his brother Fergus for a bite of lunch and the banter.
Fellow photographer Lorraine Teevan, was eager to pay tribute to Brian.
“Ten years ago when I started out as a freelancer in the Cavan area not everyone was pleased to see me but Brian Mulligan welcomed me with a big smile and open arms. He was not only a colleague but became one of my best friends.
“He was a unique man filled with warmth, love and humour. A job shared with him was never boring and he had the most wonderful laugh. An incredibly talented photographer, who was never shy about passing on his wisdom.  He will be missed terribly by all of us photographers in the Cavan and surrounding areas. 
“When I think of Brian I always think of him as a rascal, full of devilment in the best possible way. A pure gentleman. May his kind soul rest in peace.”
Brian is survived by his four sons, Raymond, London, David, Dublin; Brian, Cootehill and Kenneth, Italy, his brother Fergus and his older sister Marie in London. He was predeceased by his wife Teresa.