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Tributes have been paid to a Leaving Cert student from Limerick who has died a few days after sitting his final exam.
Luke O’Brien May, an 18-year-old pupil at Castletroy College, fell ill suddenly last week and died on Sunday after being transferred to hospital in Cork. His family live in Grange, Co Limerick.
Padraig Flanagan, principal of Castletroy College, said it is “mourning a very valued member of the school community”.
He said the school’s crisis response team is offering support to students who are struggling to cope with the loss of a friend and trying to complete the last of their exams this week. A photograph of Luke, alongside a candle and a book of condolences, has been placed in the college’s prayer room.
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Luke’s two younger brothers, Ross, who is sitting his Junior Certificate, and Paul, a first-year student, attend the same school.
‘Popular young man’
Mr Flanagan said Luke was “a very popular young man and he was a very involved sportsman in a wide range of sports in the school and outside the school. Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with his family at this time.”
Fr John Daly, parish priest for Bruff, Grange and Meanus, said there is “ferocious shock” in the community.
“There is just complete numbness and silence. It’s a terrible tragedy. People are caught for words. He was a beautiful young boy, and served as a former altar boy here in Grange church. There are no words for it,” said Fr Daly.
He said a number of matches in the locality were called off last weekend, while prayers were offered in the hope that he might make a recovery.
Enthusiastic player
Luke was an enthusiastic hurling, football, rugby and basketball player. Elaine Joyce, a manager in Aisling Annacotty AFC, said he played with the club for five years and their “memories of Luke are new boots, new boots and new boots.The most up-to-date and most colourful [boots] – nearly one for everyone in the audience. It would not be unheard of him to change in the middle of game and not half-time either.
“Luke came to every session and match, and no matter how long we played, he wanted to stay for more, with pleas to his mother or father, who were always on the sideline, to let him stay.”
The Limerick Lakers basketball club and Bruff Rugby Football Club also expressed their condolences.