THE funeral of a young GAA player who had “the world at his feet” is to be held today.
Talented sportsman Niall O’Connor (14) from Ballygalget, Co Down, died suddenly on Thursday, with news of his death plunging the local community into grief.
The teenager was found unresponsive at his home on Thursday evening. Members of the nearby Ballygalget GAA club who rushed to the scene with a defibrillator and emergency services, who transferred him by air ambulance to hospital, were unable to save his life.
Parish priest Fr Patrick Mulholland said the entire community has been left “devastated” by the tragic death of a young man who had it all.
“It is a dreadful tragedy and there’s a great weight and sadness over the whole community of Ballygalget where he’s from and the wider Portaferry area,” he said.
“He was very well-known – a very popular young man, talented, a very gifted young man. Academically he had it, personality he had it, a brilliant sportsman. It’s just a terrible shock and sadness for everybody.”
“His parents, they’re just shocked, stunned and broken-hearted. “Their son was their pride and joy. They’re a good family and it’s just a terrible shock to them.
“How can you find the words? It’s just so tragic and so sad and everyone in the family and beyond are just devastated and heart-broken. What can you say to any parent who has lost their child?”
Heart-broken parents John and Caroline said their “amazing son” had given them “14 years of sheer happiness”.
“He was involved in every sport that was going, but he had a real passion for hurling, football, golf, soccer and the occasional spot of sailing,” his father told the Belfast Telegraph.
“But he wasn’t just a passionate sportsman, he was top of the class, a grade-A student with the world at his feet.
“If you had lined up 100 people, you would never think this would happen to him. He was beautiful, handsome, sporty and smart – he really had everything going for him,” Niall’s mother Caroline said.
A pupil at Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock, Niall excelled in GAA at school and was an active member of the Ballygalget hurling club.
In a post on social media Ballygalget GAC said it was “devastated” by the sudden death of Niall, a member at the club since the age of five.
“Ballygalget GAC and our local community are devastated to learn of the untimely death of our young Gael Niall O’Connor. Our most sincere thoughts and prayers are with Niall’s parents John and Caroline, his sister Ciara, extended family, teammates and friends,” the post read.
Ahead of the funeral Mass this morning in St Patrick’s Church in Ballygalget, Fr Mulholland said a “dark, heavy cloud” hangs over the Ards Peninsula.
“Even if you don’t know him you’re still touched by the fact that parents are losing their child and a sister losing a brother.”
Following this morning’s Mass, burial will take place in the adjoining church graveyard.
