THE TIGHT-KNIT community of Bunclody was left in utter shock last Monday as news filtered out of the untimely death of 16 year-old Joshua Darlington in tragic circumstances.

A transition year student at FCJ Bunclody, the 16 year-old was said to be a very intelligent young man with a particular flair for music and computer programming.

From the altar at his funeral service at St Brigid’s Church, Kilrush, on Friday morning, Joshua’s heartbroken big sister Ishtar spoke of how “nobody knows exactly what happened” and how her brother’s tragic death had come “completely out of the blue”.

“It goes to show,” she said, “that you never truly known what is going on inside someone else’s head. (…) Today I’m not just saying goodbye to a little brother, I’m saying goodbye to a piece of myself.”

Parish Priest at Kilrush, Fr Joseph Power, urged the youthful congregation of mourners, filled with friends and school mates of Joshua’s, never to be afraid to ask for help.

“Unfortunately, we have to be aware that this kind of thing can happen, even to someone so young,” he said. “At any time, if you need to talk, there are people there who will listen. I’d ask Joshua looking down on us, to be some inspiration for others and to help them to never forget that there is help there.”

For more on this story, see this week’s Echo.

The late Joshua Darlington (16) who passed away tragically and was laid to rest on Friday.