By Shirley Farmer 
His greatest passion in life was playing the drums in the Festas d’Agonia. Before his death, Antonio Durais Soares asked that his funeral should not be crying, but joy, and so he made sure that a set of drums were played during the most painful part of the funeral ceremony.
And so, on this Saturday, in the cemetery of the municipality of Viana do Castelo, Antonio Doares Soares, 83 years old, was buried, to the sounds of the pompos group “Os Amigos d’Areia”, accompanied by a concertina that made melodies such as “Golden Rosemary” echoing, Among other well-known subjects of the national repertoire.
Photo: Juka Photographers/O MINHO
Photo: Juka Photographers/O MINHO
Photo: Juka Photographers/O MINHO
MINHO spoke with Antonio’s daughter, who revealed to us that this is exactly what her father wanted. He says he has always been a happy man and the last thing he wants is for someone to grieve at his funeral, hence the idea to call the group. It was really the drums because it was what he liked most about partying in Viana do Castelo.
Augusto Doares Soares
Antonio Doris Soares was born on the Rua de Loureiro, in Monserrate, and had emigrated to France for several years, where he died on Easter, precisely on the date on which drums and rockets are often heard in Minho.
The news was updated at 22:48 with the name of the drum kit.