Who WAS Harry Lawless? Harry Lawless was a man of several uniquely important names and roles. He was a father to five amazing sons and three beautiful daughters. He was a loving husband to his wife, my grandmother, Shelia Lawless and a friend to many. Harry Lawless was an Elvis Presley fanatic, a vodka and coke type of man and one hell of a horse better. He was a man of humour, patience, kindness, advice and a shoulder for all who needed his care. He was a man of few words, yet these few words were always what we wanted, and sometimes needed to hear. A man that loved his family, with all that he had, and who had the pleasure of meeting each new grandchild, despite the odds. Harry Lawless was man of several uniquely important names and roles; but to me, and my cousins, he filled a very important and irreplaceable position; he was a grandfather. So, who IS Harry Lawless now? Harry Lawless is a man that is going to live on through us; through his daughters, his sons, his wife and his grandchildren. A man that will forever be mentioned on Christmas morning as we reminisce about him showing up at our front door when we were little; a black binbag full of barbies, toy guns and other Christmas goodies. He is a man that on guy fox night; we will giggle and roll our eyes as we remember his reckless nature towards safety as he would stand at the back door, firework in hand and light it facing out towards the garden. We will laugh even harder as we remember the look of shock on his face when his rocket plans didn’t go quite how he expected. On New Years Eve, he is the man that we will raise our glasses up to the heavens and say a pray, or a cheer, to his name. And as we celebrate the night with laughter, family and love; he will be ever present in our thoughts, most likely laughing his head off from wherever he is when we get too drunk and fall over ourselves. For me, personally, he will be remembered with every five-pound note I am given throughout my life. You see, when I turned 16, I began attending college not far from Kilmuir Road and on Friday’s when my classes finished, I would go to visit Gaga. This became my favourite time of the week. I found myself going to class, even during self-study knowing that it was my day to spend with the family. I will forever cherish these afternoons that I so longed for during the week and the five-pound note gaga would not-so-sneakily give me every time I had to go home. I think all of us can agree, Gran and Gaga’s house wasn’t just a house, it was home to us all. A haven from drama whether work, school or friendship related and no matter the circumstance, Gaga’s home was a safe escape from hard and unpleasant times. And so now, on each hard day we face, when we feel alone and often hopeless, he will be the face of love, strength and comfort. A reminder that although you cannot always physically be with the ones you love, you can be with them through memory and forever present in their lives. He will remind us, in these low moments, that we are never alone as long as we keep him safe in our hearts. And no matter how lonely we get, that we have family and like him with his horses, we must always bet on our family…even if the horses without our names are more likely to win. Our lives are so much richer having had the privilege of having you, Gaga, and although I am so thankful for all you experienced and taught us; I only wish you had the ability to teach us something I know to be impossible; how to carry on without you. We love you and miss you, Gaga, always and forever.