Funeral of tragic drowning victim Ben Duffy (5) to take place on Friday

TRAGEDY St Mary’s Church, Tourmakeady, where young Ben’s funeral Mass will be held on Friday. Pic: Google Maps

Mass in Tourmakeady with burial afterwards in Aughagower Cemetery

Michael Duffy

THE funeral Mass for Ben Duffy, the five year old who tragically drowned in Lough Mask on Bank Holiday Monday, will take place tomorrow, Friday, June 5.
The whole county of Mayo has been in mourning this week after news of the tragic accident on Mayo’s biggest lake spread across the region. A massive search-and-rescue operation was launched at approximately 6.30pm on Monday evening, when little Ben fell into the water from an inflatable dinghy while playing with his family along the shore of Lough Mask near his home in Treen in Tourmakeady.
The search resumed at first light on Tuesday morning, and Ben’s body was recovered by members of the GrΡinne Uaile Sub Aqua Club at approximately 8.30am.
Ben was the youngest of his heartbroken parents Alan and Tracey’s five children, and is survived by his loving brothers, Matthew, Daniel, Dolan and sister Darcey, as well as his grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, relatives and wide circle of neighbours and friends.
The funeral cortege will leave the residence of Ben’s grandparents in Sraheen on Friday morning at 11am, to arrive at St Mary’s Church in Tourmakeady for requiem Mass at 12 noon.
The Mass will be said by Fr John Kenny, Parish Priest of Partry and Tourmakeady, and a close friend of the Duffy family. Fr Kenny told The Mayo News on Tuesday of the huge shock in the area at the death of young Ben.
“Monday evening went from a sunny summer’s day with a holiday atmosphere buzz around the place to people screaming for help and devastation for the family.
“The community is stunned and shocked by what happened and are so upset for the family. The Duffys are involved in everything, the soccer, the Gaelic, the music, the dancing, the fundraising, everything that goes on in the parish. They are a well-loved family, and little Ben was the youngest of five and just five years old,” he said.
In accordance with HSE and Government guidelines due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ben’s funeral Mass will be for family only. Ben will be buried in Aughagower Cemetery and his funeral cortege will travel from Tourmakeady Church via Trianlar, Srah and Killawalla, before bringing Ben to his final resting place in Aughagower, on the outskirts of Westport. May his gentle soul rest in peace.