Baldwin, Conal
February 23, 2013
Conal was born in Daisy Hill Hospital on 15 May 2000 at 15.51pm to loving Mummy Joanne and proud caring Daddy Joe. Conal is our first born.
Conal was taken home to Grange Manor in Kilkeel where he lived his short but wonderful life. From a very early age Conal loved music and sport. He was pucking a hurling ball from the age of three years old, and kicking a football before that.
The Baldwin family was blessed on 26 June 2003 with Conal's only brother Darragh. Right away wee Darragh was always special to Conal. He adored Darragh, helping to feed him and running for nappies; the Baldwin house was complete.
Conal's first school days were spent in the Kilkeel Nursery School in Kilkeel. He settled in straight away and enjoyed the company of the other children.
Conal was easy to pick out as he had a head full of bright red curls. Even here at three years of age Conal's passion for sport was showing as he won his first medal, winning the school sports race.
Conal moved to Grange Primary School, just outside Kilkeel, and again fully embraced school life. He played the lead role on several occasions in the school Christmas plays, and
everyone that was present knew Conal was special as he played Santa, and Rockefeller singing solo.
Conal was joined at the school by Darragh and on Darragh's communion day, and again on his own confirmation day, Conal sang solo in front of the entire church; nothing fazed him.
At Grange PS sport was important to Conal as he became the Down primary skills hurling winner with a 100% record.
The same year Conal's 125th anniversary GAA project took first prize from all the schools in Down.
That same year, P7, Conal played hurling for Down and then Ulster in Casement Park. He was a naturally gifted Hurler.
From here Conal moved on to St Mark's High School in Warrenpoint where he settled in, making new friends from Warrenpoint, Drumgath, Burren and Hilltown, as well as keeping in contact with the boys that went elsewhere,
Friendship was very important to Conal. No doubt his best friend was his little brother Darragh, though every child was important to Conal.
Conal became the captain of the first ever St Mark's soccer team.
A life-long Man Utd fan, he attended Old Trafford on three occasions, so scoring the first ever goal for the St Mark's High School soccer team was a brilliant memory for young Conal.
Conal simply loved his school life; he loved the banter on the bus and was known throughout the entire school. Everyone misses Conal there. Conal played Gaelic football for the An Riocht club. He loved it; the club is where Conal was so happy.
He was a vital member of the youth club. He would look forward to the pointer meetings, training, and, of course, matches. All who played against Conal, or watched him play knew they were in a match, even some referees, I blame his red hair. While football was so important to Conal, hurling and camogie were where the wee man's passion was.
He hurled every day and again any person who watched Conal play for the Moume club will tell you he was years ahead of his time. In short, he simply could make the sliother sing. He wanted to do this; Conal wanted to improve. In his last ever under 14 match, Conal scored 4-4; he was 12 years old. Conal travelled with his Dad to several All Ireland finals, Leinster finals, and Christy Ring matches, always keeping the most accurate records of who scored what and from where. He would visit Croke Park to watch the Down team play, always in full colour, including under-armour.
Camogie is where most knew Conal, first with Queen's University, Down, Antrim, Ulster, Ulster Colleges and Ballyholland. Conal would follow his Daddy everywhere, always trying to help in any way, collecting bibs, water bottles, sliothers, carrying hurls, never in the way, only being Conal. Here again any camog that knew the wee man would simply describe Conal as infectious.
During Conal's 12 years he travelled to 29 of the 32 counties in Ireland. Conal loved Ireland, north and south. The family spent a lot of time in Waterford on holidays before two overseas holidays with his family to Portugal and Lanzarote.
Here time was spent with Claire and Ciarrai, his first cousins but more like sisters. Conal has a massive family circle, loads of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. They all love him, and Conal them. Conal would stay after school in his Auntie Lou's, his second home, in from school, shoes off and his wee feet at the fire before the evening meal. He loved it there with Darragh.
It would be impossible for me to describe my son's 12 years with us in this tribute; anyone who knew Conal knows just what an incredible child he was, and that child is now an Angel.
Conal was laid to rest on 28 December, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, after his untimely death on Christmas Eve. Conal's funeral was described as one of the biggest ever in Massforth; Conal would have known all the people by their name who attended.
Conal has touched the hearts of so many people in his short 12 years with his fantastic attitude to life, always doing his very best, and always with a beautiful smile on his face. Now that's
Conal's tribute to all of us who have had the pleasure of knowing Conal.
Forever missed and always loved - Mummy, Daddy and wee Darragh x x x
Courtesy of The Mouirne Observer
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