THERE WAS a palpable sense of despair in Oulart on Sunday as a numbed community laid tragic crash victim Conor Byrne to rest.
Hundreds of people came to the village to attend the 14-year-old’s Funeral Mass in St Patrick’s Church, where he was recalled as a popular, talented, much-loved teenager.
The congregation was a sea of black and red, the colours of Conor’s beloved Oulart the Ballagh GAA club, and his fellow teammates provided a guard of honour.
The young boy’s passion for hurling was again highlighted with gifts brought to the altar, which included a hurl and his helmet.
Other gifts offered were a Barney teddy, to symbolise his nickname, and a photo of him and his beloved granny Eileen Leacy, who passed away in a fatal car accident also in 2006.
Speaking to the devastated congregation, Chief Celebrant V Rev Patrick Browne, PP said a dark cloud has come over the community.
“For many people gathered here, Conor’s death has turned their whole world upside down,” he said.
“I’m very aware that all words are inadequate to lessen our grief or to begin to heal the pain that is so keenly felt in these four walls and beyond.”
Fr. Browne said he was reminded of a line in the ballad ‘Cuchulainn’s Son’: “The last parade was sad and slow. The last oration spoken low.”
“Today, we move sad and slow,” he said. “And our words are spoken low, such is our grief, such is our sorrow.”
He referred to Conor as a “gentle hero” and said that although there are tears of pain and anguish, they are also of pride for his many achievements in his all-too-short life.
“Only two years ago he was in the Mini Sevens Hurling and just recently he was picked for the County Development squad,” he said. Tragically, his first match was supposed to take place on Friday.
“Conor was a keen hurler, his heart was in it. He would usually be an hour early for training!” Fr. Browne said. “He was a proud member of the Oulart the Ballagh GAA club, he played on under-age teams all the way up and captained the under 14s. He was full of promise.”
Fr. Browne also spoke of Conor’s personality – he had a cheeky sense of humour, he was very kind and he had a loving relationship with his parents Angela and Colm.
He also noted his special bond with his deceased grandmother and said the pair were together in Heaven now.
Fr. Browne also addressed Conor’s many heartbroken friends, who the young boy liked to keep in constant contact with over social media, like any typical teen, and told them to look after each other.
“We have to talk, and we have been since Conor died on Wednesday,” he said. “We’ve been telling stories and asking questions. We want to know why. Why, why why. Why do bad things happen to good people.”
