Community mourns the passing of beloved member Dr Eoin McCarney

The Church of The Holy Rosary was filled with sadness on Tuesday, February 4, as family and friends of the late Dr Eoin McCarney of Castlebar gathered in his memory.

Dr Eoin McCarney, Foxfield, Castlebar, and formerly of Snugboro, passed away on Friday, January 31, after a long battle with illness, which Eoin bore with dignity and bravery.

The sheer number of people offering their condolences to Eoin’s family was a testament to the regard in which he was held.

During the funeral Mass, a number of symbolic gifts were brought to the altar, each representing a different aspect of Eoin’s life and passions. 

Steven from Castlebar Kayak Club presented a paddle, symbolising Eoin’s love of the outdoors and his commitment to kayaking. Eoin was also a coach with the Special Olympics team, several of whom recently won medals at the World Games in Berlin.

Eoin’s closest friends from the chemistry department at Trinity College Dublin brought forward his PhD thesis, along with a gold medal awarded for his undergraduate academic excellence.

Amanda presented a sample of Eoin’s home-brewed beer, representing both his passion for chemistry and his generosity with others.

His cousin, Daragh Johnston, brought forward Eoin’s Ryan Cup All-Ireland hurling medal, won with Trinity College Dublin, symbolising his love of sport.

Eva from AbbVie presented Eoin’s laboratory coat and employee badge, reflecting his dedication to his career in chemistry.

Finally, Eoin’s aunt and godmother, Breege, brought forward a family photograph, representing his deep love for his family.

Following the presentation of the gifts, Eoin’s brother Niall delivered a deeply personal eulogy, reflecting on his brother’s life and the memories they shared.

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Niall spoke warmly of Eoin’s interest in brewing beer during the Covid-19 pandemic. "He really got into brewing beer during Covid. We called it Snug Brew. ‘About time he put his chemistry to good use,’ I used to say to Lynne," he said.

He described Eoin’s meticulous attention to detail in all his pursuits. "Like all of his endeavours, he trialled and errored, always having beers to share when he visited friends and family the length and breadth of the country for them to test."

Niall also spoke about Eoin’s sporting life, particularly his love of kayaking. "After a bike accident, he couldn’t keep the hurling up. He needed something else, and his curiosity brought him to kayaking,” he said. "He used to paddle every day during the summer when he was working night shifts. The joy he’d have after a lot of rainfall, knowing the rivers would run faster."

He described his brother as “creative, curious, confident in his ability and generous with his time and talents," adding: "He did by far the least amount of talking, but he was the quickest with the joke, always observing the absurdity of everyone with humour and class.”

Niall also spoke of Eoin’s close bond with their mother, Marian, whom he described as a "mountain of a woman," and expressed gratitude to those who supported Eoin throughout his life and illness. “I have to thank his friends, his kayak lads, his gentle nurses, his caring doctors, his dietitian, our relatives, our friends, the funeral directors and the absolutely amazing Snugboro community,” he said.

To conclude his eulogy, Niall spoke about one of the last messages his brother had received before he passed away.

"I was going through Eoin’s phone the morning he passed away, letting the most recent contacts on his WhatsApp know the news. Eoin received some kind words from his superior and friend Doug about how respected he was, and Eoin remarked ‘I think I would have gone far. Alas, in some other universe, maybe I did.’ But Eoin, in such a short space of time, you did go far."

And lastly, Niall thanked his brother. "You went so far, and you brought so many of them along with you. So we could too. Thank you, Eoin."

Following the funeral service, Eoin’s remains were taken to Castlebar New Cemetery.

Eoin will be deeply mourned and missed by his heartbroken family, his mam Marian, his sister Miriam, brother Niall, his nephew and godson Louis, brother-in-law Jack, Niall’s partner Lynne, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and many friends.

May he rest in peace.

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