O'Neill, Andrew
December 14, 2010Family, friends and members of the local sporting community gathered for the funeral of tragic student Andrew O'Neil in a moving ceremony at St Patrick's Chapel Clonoe.
Members of Naomh Colum Cille Hurling team formed a guard of honour at the packed funeral Mass for the popular 20-year-old Quantity Surveying student.
Andrew died after he was struck by a stolen car in Liverpool on November 27. He had been a student at John Moores university for just over a month.
There were heart rending scenes as tributes were paid to the keen sportsman described as having a 'bright future' by his university lectures.
St Patricks Church was filled to standing room only as the grieving crowd listened to the celebration of Andrew's life.
SDLP Coalisland councillor Jim Cavanagh said it would take time for Clonoe to grieve its loss.
"I know the older generations of the O'Neills and they are very nice people, very well thought of and respected and it is such a shame that they should lose their son in such heartbreaking circumstances," he said.
"There's a huge amount of sadness in Clonoe and right across the district.
"The community has lost a talented and dedicated young man and that is hard to overcome. So many will never overcome. So many will never overcome this great sadness,"
Andrew is survived by his grieving parents Brendan and Ann, and brothers Michael and Aaron.
Courtesy of the Tyrone Times 14/12/10 Tweet
