Hundreds gather in Knock for funeral of schoolteacher and Aghamore footballer James McNeive

HUNDREDS gathered in Knock today (Saturday) to bid farewell to much-loved local school teacher and footballer James McNeive, who passed away in a road accident at the age of 28. 

Members of Aghamore GAA and Eastern Gaels GAA Clubs and friends from Australia were among those who gathered at his funeral Mass at the Church of St John the Baptist in the village. Members of staff at his former workplace, the Cill Aodáin Court Hotel in Kiltimagh, also joined members of both GAA clubs in the guard of honour afterwards. 

The Mass was also streamed at the nearby Apparition Chapel, which quickly filled to capacity after the Church of St John the Baptist filled with mourners before the start of the Mass. 

James McNeive was killed last Sunday morning when a van he was driving collided with a lorry in Co Sligo. 

Born in Brickens, James was a talented footballer from an early age, making his debut for the club’s U-14 team aged 10. 

In 2009, James moved to Knock and later joined Aghamore GAA Club, where he played alongside his brothers and cousins for many years. 

Known to his teammates as ‘Deadly’, James was fondly remembered by his brother as someone who possessed the best traits from both the McNeive and Sweeney families. 

In a heartfelt and occasionally humorous eulogy, James’ brother, Michael, said he ‘could fill a hundred eulogies for the reason James was such a wonderful person, and a thousand eulogies of all the funny stories and incidents he left in his wake’.  

He said that his brother possessed “the kindness and patience and musical talent of the McNeives, the work ethic, determination and general fun and daftness of the Sweeneys.” 

James attended secondary school at St Louis Community School in Kiltimagh and qualified as a national school teacher from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. 

He later moved to Dublin to work in a Church of Ireland school, where he met his girlfriend, Catherine Carr - who he had been visiting in her native Donegal on the weekend he lost his life. 

A guitar, to symbolise his love of music, Aghamore and Mayo Gaels jerseys, to symbolise his love of football, and photographs, symbolising his love for his family and his girlfriend, were present on the altar during his Funeral Mass. 

His brother, Michael, described his brother as ‘a great big brother’ who ‘loved fun’ and ‘got on with everyone’. 

He also described James as ‘a wheeler-dealer’ who loved to buy and sell goods on DoneDeal and a ‘natural-born administrator’ who always presided over the Sweeney family Christmas quiz. 

Paying tribute to his work as a teacher, Michael said his brother was ‘fantastic with kids’ and held a special fondness for his three nieces, Beth Sally and Jane

Michael also thanked all those who had comforted and helped the family since the passing of his brother, who had spent the previous eighteen months ‘spreading joy, fun and laughter’.

He concluded by thanking his mother, Bernadette, saying: “Life was hard for us at times, but the job you did in loving and caring for James made him the wonderful, happy, loveable, loving man that James became.

“We got to enjoy 28 years with James. We didn’t know quite how precious they were until this week…now it only seems fair that our Dad gets to enjoy so many years with him in heaven,” Michael added, paying tribute to his late father, Pete, who died when James was a child.

James McNeive’s coffin was then carried from the Church of St John the Baptist and through the village of Knock. He has been laid to rest in Knock Cemetery.

He survived by his mother Bernadette; his sister Fiona and her husband Barry; brothers Michael, Matthew and Peter jnr.; girlfriend Catherine Carr; his nieces Beth, Sally and Jane and his nephew Noah; aunts Mary, Noreen, Trish and Kate Sweeney; Patricia, Noreca and Monnie McNeive; uncles Pat, Michael, Sean and Kevin Sweeney, Joe Egan and John McNeive; his beloved cousins, extended Sweeney and McNeive family; his team-mates, neighbours and many friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.