An emotional farewell

Emotional farewell to young man ‘who touched many lives’

Emer Gallagher

A DARK cloud of sadness hung over the town of Ballycastle at the weekend, as 30-year-old Colm Kenny was laid to rest, amid moving tributes and tearful goodbyes.
Mourners packed St Bridget’s Church in Ballycastle on Sunday morning to pay their final raespects to a much-loved son of the town who died in Australia on May 17 as a result of injuries sustained in an attack in Byron Bay six days earlier.
Colm’s mother Mary bravely spoke to the packed congregation before the funeral Mass, on behalf of her husband John, Colm’s brothers Ronan and Ciarán, and herself. Mary thanked neighbours, friends, Fr Séan Killeen, Ballycastle GAA team, the extended family and the packed congregation for their expressions of sympathy in their time of grief.
In a moving and emotional address, Mary said the huge attendance was evidence of the ‘many lives our Colm has touched during his short life’. “He was a wonderful, caring, and fun-loving son, brother and friend. May his gentle soul rest in peace.” Mary also thanked ‘two very special young people’, Georgina O’Grady and Brian Gilligan, who accompanied Colm’s remains from Brisbane home to Ballycastle. “You will remain forever with us,” she said.
Fr Seán Killeen, who con-celebrated Mass with Bishop John Fleming and past priests of the parish, outlined the caring, respectful and fun-loving nature of Colm in an emotional eulogy. Fr Killeen, who knew Colm all his life, recalled many happy memories as Colm grew up in the tightly-knit community. The 30-year-old civil engineer was remembered at various stages throughout his life, from a young boy doing odd jobs with his life-long friend Michael Hegarty, to a star on the football field where he excelled as a ‘natural athlete’.
Speaking of the ‘great loss’ the Kenny family has to bear, Fr Killeen told them: “My heart is with your heart.”
The priest said the tragic death of Colm was difficult to comprehend and went against ‘the natural circle of life and death’.
Among the gifts brought to the altar were a guitar and a Ballycastle GAA jersey, symbolising Colm’s love of music and his prowess in sport, as he played for his beloved Ballycastle for many years and as a minor footballer for Mayo.
Colm’s remains were brought to Ballycastle cemetery for burial.
Colm Kenny, who had been in Australia with life-long friends since last September, was in the Byron Bay resort a number of days when, on May 11, he was attacked. A 20-year-old man, who turned himself in to police in New South Wales, has been remanded on bail to appear in court in July on a charge of murder.

COLM KENNY TRIBUTES

There was a huge outpouring of grief and sympathy following the tragic death of Colm Kenny. Friends, former work colleagues, and even those who only knew Colm fleetingly, paid tribute to the former Mayo minor footballer on a website dedicated to his memory

“I knew Colm from university, he was a year behind me in Dundee and lived across the road. People sometimes wax lyrical on these things, but it’s true when I say a funnier, warmer and more easy-going person you could not possibly meet; wouldn’t have hurt a fly. He was also a very talented footballer which I experienced at first hand (skinned me more than once and that was only indoor football) and he was great craic, especially on a night out, with plenty of funny stories and jokes to tell.” Greg Campbell

“My deepest sympathies to Colm’s family and friends on such a terrible tragedy. Colm, it was great to have bumped into you again in Sydney after so many years. May you rest in peace.”
Susan Bardon, Abbeyleix and Sydney

“I worked with Colm in Purcell Construction. He was such a lovely, friendly, helpful guy. It was a pleasure to have known him. His will always be fondly remembered. May he rest in peace.”
Caroline Collins