Hundreds collect for funeral of ‘devoted’ father and ‘one-of-a-kind’ son
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large crowd has gathered in an Irish city for the funeral of a person and his younger son who died whereas on vacation in Turkey.
Eoin Fitzpatrick, 35, and his 10-year-old son Dylan, from Portlaoise in Co Laois, died in a crash final Monday whereas on vacation in Alanya.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at St Peter and Paul’s Church on Tuesday for the funeral of “devoted” father Eoin and “treasured” scholar Dylan.
Members from the Portlaoise GAA group fashioned a guard of honour and Dylan’s classmates held flowers exterior the church as the 2 coffins have been carried in.
Family members described Eoin as a gifted sportsman who wore the city and county GAA colors with delight, and who was “the master of one-liners”.
Dylan liked to “let his imagination run wild” and was a candy youngster who was “one of a kind”, mourners have been advised.
The parish priest mentioned the tragedy has left their households “heartbroken and bewildered”, and the entire group “in shock and united in sympathy”.
He expressed his condolences to Mr Fitzgerald’s different son, Dylan’s older brother Cian, who had been on vacation with them in Turkey, and mentioned Dylan’s mom Claire was “heartbroken” by the loss.
Claire described her “beautiful” son Dylan as particular and witty, and mentioned he liked “the simple things in life”.
“As my family would say, it was Dylan’s world and we were all just living in it,” she advised the congregation.
“He loved to dance, he loved to colour, he loved to read, he loved to swim.
“He loved trains, his favourite movies were Matilda and Paddington 2.
“He always held my hand and I will forever hold him in my heart.
“His best friend was his daddy, whom he loved so dearly because he was, and always will be, the most amazing father to him and Cian. I hope they’re holding each other so tight wherever they are.
“I’ll end this with saying something that Dylan and I would always say to each other: I love you, I love you more, I love you most.”
Mr Fitzgerald’s sisters Ciara, Maryse and Aideen, and his buddy David, additionally addressed the congregation.
Ciara mentioned her nephew Dylan liked each “structure, order, routine”, corresponding to “dependable, reliable” trains, and “free-spirited, untethered, fantastic art”.
“Dylan wasn’t a carbon copy of his dad. He didn’t like sports, certainly not team sports.
“He had a special gift, Eoin saw that, he celebrated it, he nurtured it, and that is why they had such a unique bond. It was beautiful.”
She described her brother as an “extraordinary” man, a “devoted” father, and an “exceptional” buddy, who was “the king of sarcasm” and a “joy to be around”.
Maryse mentioned the lack of “these two beautiful boys” was “shattering” for the household.
“We grieve for them, but what is grief if not love persevering?” she mentioned.
“We grieve because we love them.
“Our hearts ache because we miss their smiles, we miss their laughter, quick wit and good humour. We miss the joy they brought into our life.
“But that joy will remain because, while it’s coloured in sadness, the light Eoin and Dylan brought into the world is undimmed by their absence from it.
“We will carry them with us in our thoughts, in our hearts and in our lives.”
The boys are deeply mourned by their totally heartbroken households
Bishop Denis Nulty expressed sympathy to Cian and Claire, Mr Fitzgerald’s dad and mom, and Dylan’s grandparents, Rita and Frank Fitzpatrick, Dylan’s maternal grandparents, Liz and Andy Dowling, and Mr Fitzgerald’s accomplice Suzie and her household.
Items taken as much as the altar to signify Dylan’s life included a mannequin practice, a guide and a portray, as artwork was described because the “gateway into his imagination and how he saw the world”.
Items taken as much as signify Mr Fitzgerald included a hurl, as he was a “skilled” and “gifted” participant, and a Manchester United jersey.
The priest mentioned the “huge congregation”, spilling out over the grounds of the church to attend the service, confirmed locals’ need to “embrace and support” the household whose hearts had been “truly broken” by the loss, and likewise confirmed the recognition of each father and son.
“The boys are deeply mourned by their utterly heartbroken families,” he mentioned.