Lyons, Jack
July 27, 2013
Sorrow and heartbreak as Jack, 14, is laid to rest
The spirited, sports mad young boy from Clouncagh was much loved
Jack, forever in our hearts, good-bye. These were the words that resonated and struck to the deep heart's core on Sunday last when hundreds of people, young and old, gathered in St. Mary's church in Clouncagh for one of the saddest funerals ever witnessed in the parish.
They had come to say farewell to Jack, the 14-year-old son of Carmel and Kevin Lyons who had died suddenly last Thursday and who was buried amid tears and heartbreak in the community which nurtured him and which he loved.
And even as Jack was being remembered as a lively, sportsmad and spirited young boy with the world at this feet, parish priest Fr Edwin Irwin sought to bring consolation to those grieving him. In answer to the question, why, he said: "We don't know. But we do know if we live a good life, that one day we'll be reunited with our loved ones."
The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to children, the priest continued. "It now belongs to Jack," he said, although he was sure Jack "will cause a ripple there too." And he recalled a
story of Jack asking one of his teachers: "Can you help me to be good?"".
Jack, he added, was definitely, a tryer. His death had devastated his family and his community, Fr Irwian said, but the response of the community had shown how very much this young boy had been loved.
Jack collapsed and died in front of his best friend as the pair were power-housing sheds at Paddy Lyons', Jack's grandfather's, farm in Ahalin on Thursday afternoon. And while it was initially believed
the teenager was electrocuted, a post mortem did not find electrocution as the cause and instead indicated he may have suffered sudden adult death syndrome.
On Sunday, his remains were brought the short distance from his home in Clouncagh to the nearby church, flanked by his parents, his twin brothers Cormac and Darragh (10), and with a guard of honour
drawn from Deel Rangers and Knockaderry/Clouncagh GAA, his old school Ahalin NS and his new school, Scoil Mhuire agus Ide in Newcastle West.
Symbols of his short life brought to the altar included a rugby ball, his mobile phone which mourners were told never left his hand, a bodhran because of his love of music, and a soccer ball. There were emotional responses when his hurley was placed on the altar, a reminder of how his delight at Limerick's Munster success was quenched by sudden tragedy.
In a simple but deeply moving letter to Jack, his aunt Ann O'Regan described the boy they all knew, loved and were so very proud of.
She conjured up a word- portrait of Jack as a student who had settled and was very happy in his new school, of Jack as a sports enthusiast and above all, of Jack with his family, working and helping out or playing for hours and hours with his young brothers.
Cormac and Darragh, she said, were cross with God for taking Jack but were glad to have had him in their lives.
"You paved the way," she said before continuing: "You touched our lives so deeply, you made us smile and laugh and you loved getting in our adult conversations."
"You and I had a special bond," Ms O'Regan went on. And she told of how she loved the fact that Jack was able to confide in her and talk to her about girls and how to go about kissing
them. She was glad this ambition had been achieved.
Addressing the overflow congretation, she said; "You make this a great community to live. Your kindness and generosity, your care for what happens to people in this parish. In times of crisis, we have each
other's back. Jack knew that too," she said. Finally, addressing Jack's parents she said: "Thank you for bringing this beautiful boy into our lives."
Courtesy of the Limerick Leader.
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