THE COFFINS of two brothers lay side by side at a requiem mass in Killarney, Co Kerry, over the weekend as mourners struggled to come to terms with the loss of young men who were known for creating an atmosphere of “laughter, craic and fun.”
Brothers David (17) and Kevin Breen (15) from Hazelwood Drive, Ballyspillane, Killarney and Áine Riordan (15) died at the scene of last Wednesday’s fatal crash on the N72 between Killarney and Barraduff.
A fourth friend Brian Coffey (19) from Crohane, Fossa, died later in hospital. A fifth passenger in the car, Darragh Jones (16) from Farranfore is in a stable condition at Kerry General Hospital.
On Saturday at the 10.30am requiem mass of the Breen brothers at St Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney, celebrant Fr Gerard O’Leary, said the news of the accident had “sent shivers” through the local community. “We quickly checked where members of our family were and if they were safe.
“When the names of those involved were released our attention quickly focused on those families and the pain, shock and horror they must have been experiencing. Deep inside we knew that it could be my story, my son or daughter, brother or sister, relative or friend, and we ask ourselves the question secretly, how would I cope?
“We think of the times when we too had near misses, when I was too tired to drive safely, when I was speeding or showing off, or simply not paying attention to my driving when I put my own life and that of others at risk.”
He said as news of the crash spread and the identities of the victims became known, darkness descended across the area. He told the hundreds of mourners that in an effort to come to terms with their grief family members relived the lives of two boys.
“We relived the times they played with Spa GAA or Killarney Celtic. Shared memories of the funny incidents at home or school, be it St Brendan’s Community College or Lissivigeen NS. The happy times spent in the local youth club. Kevin and David will be remembered best for their sense of joy and fun.”
Fr O’Leary extended his condolences to the Breen family on behalf of President Mary McAleese who contacted the sacristy to offer her support to the bereaved.
He informed the congregation that he had also been contacted by the recently bereaved families in the Inishowen peninsula in Co Donegal as well as members of the public, both locally and nationally, who wanted to sympathise with the Breen family following their tragic loss.
Fr O’Leary added that David and Kevin would be best remembered for the special attention their youngest brother Billy received when they brought him on the crossbar of a bike to the shop for sweets and treats.
The brothers were buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Kilcummin. They are survived by their parents Denis and Sheila, their brothers Michael, Denis and Billy, and their sister Sheila-Mary.
Meanwhile, the fourth victim of the crash, Brian Coffey, was laid to rest at Aghadoe Cemetery outside Killarney following 11am mass on Saturday at Fossa Church.
Fr Brendan Harrington, parish priest of Fossa, Killarney, said a terrible sense of sadness had fallen over the community since the crash. Fr Harrington told the congregation in the packed church that Brian was a charming youth much loved by his family.
“They [his family] told me that he was charming, that he was full of life, that he was full of the joys of life, that he was mad about his young brother and sister, Simon and Beth, that there were times when they could have killed him but that they all loved him.”
Fr Harrington also spoke of the importance of supporting the families of the deceased in their time of great need. He said he remembered being involved with the requiem mass of a young man who, like Brian, had lost his life in a crash and of how supportive his friends were to his family.
The parents of the teenager later told him of the comfort they took from the warm messages of support from their late son’s friends.
“And of course it enabled the young people concerned to cope with his death too. Reaching out to others enables us to cope with life’s problems.”
A message of sympathy to the Coffey family from President Mary McAleese was relayed at the funeral in the Church of Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Brian Coffey is survived by his parents Siobhán and Mick, brother Simon, sister Beth, and grandparents Raymond and Betty Coffey.
The fourth victim of the crash, Áine Riordan (15), was laid to rest in Castleisland, Co Kerry, last Friday.