The heartbroken father of a teenage Liverpool fan who died suddenly while playing football told his requiem Mass he would “never walk alone”.
Graham O’Connell (14), The Steeples, Mayfield, Cork, who died on Monday, had been due to return to school yesterday at St Aidan’s Community College, Dublin Hill.
Hundreds of people filled the Church of Our Lady in Mayfield to pay their sympathies to his parents Dave and Jackie, and his sisters Karen and Edel, and to celebrate the teenager’s live.
“Graham was born with a complex heart condition, but he never let it get in his way,” Mr O’Connell said.
Glen Rovers Camogie Club’s press officer Beth Hackett told how Graham, who was the club’s mascot, attended every one of his sisters’ camogie matches and became “part of the team”.
Referring to a campaign launched by his friends to have his name placed on the scoreboard at Anfield during Liverpool’s next game, Ms Hackett said the posts on Facebook showed how Graham had “touched so many lives”.
Liverpool Football Club tweeted a message of condolence to Graham’s family and friends: “We were saddened to learn of the passing of young Red Graham O’Connell. The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with his friends and family.” The club’s management also sent the family a letter of condolence.