Cillian with his new schoolbag for playschool, just a few months ago

THE UNEXPECTED and tragic passing of two year-old Cillian Minnock has left his bereaved family grief-stricken and shocked.

The young boy died on the morning of October 12 after falling ill very suddenly on the previous Wednesday night at his home in Ballinteer, Dublin 16.

His parents, father Dónal Minnock, who is originally from Enniscorthy, and mother

Elena La Pietra have been left shattered from the loss of their curly-haired, cherub-cheeked little boy.

Cillian was born in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin on November the 19th 2009, which his loving parents recall was the morning after Thierry Henry handled the football into the Irish net.

Despite his tender age, Cillian was a well travelled two year-old, and had already seen a lot of the world.

He had travelled to Hobart, Tasmania in 2010, when he was just six months old, allowing him to visit the birthplace of his mother, Elena. The family trip was extended by a couple of weeks as a result of the Icelandic volcanic ash disruption.

The toddler also visited the birthplace of his maternal grandparents in Barile, which is located in the province of Basilicata, Italy, to celebrate the 91st birthday of his great-grandmother Anita in October 2010, and more recently his grand-uncle Nicola’s 50th birthday in August 2011.

He is survived by his mother and father, Elena La Pietra and Dónal Minnock (Junior), his grandparents Eugenia and Pietro, Kathleen and Dónal (Senior), his great Grandmother Anita, as well as Aunts, Uncles, cousins and other relatives.

May he forever Rest in Peace.

See this week’s Echo for the full story.