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World Cup delight turns
to horror
15.07.10
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THE town of Buncrana rang out with cries of Ole,
Ole, Ole as 150 Spanish exchange students celebrated
their happy World Cup result.
But the evening ended with "extremely urgent phone
calls from the fire service and the gardai",
mourners at the funeral of Eamonn McDaid heard
yesterday.
Parish priest Fr John Walsh said the emergency services
warned there were a number of fatalities but nobody
was expecting eight. |
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"This grim fact has
left all of us reeling in shock and has left so many
families shattered."
He addressed the young people at yesterday's funeral
mass in St Mary's Church, Cockhill, telling them
"life is fragile".
"Allow me to say to you that you are not
indestructible at the age of 22. You are very
fragile. All of us are. Life itself is fragile.
"We have to be careful and even wise if we are to
reach adulthood and middle age and old age. |
There are no guarantees
but care and caution are mighty helps in the effort
at holding on to life.
"I don't mean to patronise you. When I was your age
I too felt indestructible. But none of us is. That's
a plain fact of life. So please, please, please live
life on its terms, within its rules and boundaries
otherwise life will be cruel and merciless towards
you and towards the family and friends who will have
to bear you to the grave."
The second youngest in the family, chief mourners
yesterday were Seamus and Martha, his siblings
Martin, Sean, Liam and James, his girlfriend Yvonne
and his granny Rose.
Eamonn was remembered as a loving son, affectionate
brother
He was "a bubbly character, wild for craic, he was
the life and soul of every party. He loved singing
well on into the morning. His laugh and smile were
infectious.
"He loved sailing about the country in a car and
would have gone to Cork in the morning for you if he
got the chance."
Eamonn, a mechanic and carpenter, also enjoyed
playing football and wore the number 11 jersey in
midfield for Illies Celtic FC. His pal, PJ
McLaughlin, buried on Wednesday was a striker for
the same club.
"He enjoyed seeing others get their comeuppance on
the football field," quipped Fr Walsh. He was laid
to rest in the adjoining cemetery. The family of
Damien McLaughlin, who was laid to rest in the
afternoon, requested privacy from the media. |
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