Sudden Balla death

Balla shocked by sudden death of 20-year-old

Denise Horan

A WAVE of sadness swept over Balla last week with the news of the sudden death of Matthew O’Neill. Some hours earlier, he had lined out for Balla in a West Mayo Junior B championship game against Islandeady in Balla.
Matthew, who would have celebrated his 21st birthday on July 13, was son of Mary (nee McNeely) and Gerry O’Neill from Ardboley. He died in his sleep during Wednesday night. A stunned community learned of his passing on Thursday morning.
The popular young man had a great love for sport and films. (He was a nephew of the late and legendary sports broadcaster, Willie ‘The Shoe’ McNeely). He played Gaelic at all underage grades for Balla and also rugby for Castlebar RFC. He was an ardent Liverpool supporter when it came to English soccer.
He took a keen interest in films and had a wide knowledge of that scene. He had been working on a film script and music in recent weeks.
There was a very large attendance at the removal ceremony from Balla Funeral Home on Friday evening and St Cronan’s Church was packed to capacity for the Requiem Mass on Saturday.
Fr JJ Cribbin, a friend of the O’Neill family, was the chief celebrant at the concelebrated Mass. In his consoling and touching homily, he recalled that Matthew’s special local sporting heroes were former Mayo senior footballers, Maurice Sheridan and Pat Fallon. At the age of nine, as he was coming out of Balla Church, he met Maurice who said to him, ‘Matthew, how are you’. It was a very special moment for young Matthew, Fr Cribbin recalled.
His brother David read the heartbreaking WH Auden poem, ‘Funeral Blues’, at the conclusion of the Mass. The coffin was draped with the Balla GAA jersey, and his favourite song, ‘Say Hello to Heaven’ by a group called Temple of the Dog, was played as the coffin was leaving the church.
Members of Balla GAA Club, together with Castlebar Rugby Club and many friends from the Balla area, formed a guard of honour as a tribute to a young man who had such a place in their affections.
Matthew is deeply regretted by his heartbroken parents Gerry and Mary, brothers David and Donal, grandmother Ellie McNeely, aunts, uncles, relatives, neighbours and friends.