THE mother of County Limerick teenager, Donnacha Ryan (Luke), who died in a road tragedy last weekend, told his Funeral Mass earlier today (Thursday) that he was a “kind-hearted, pure rogue”.
Mr Ryan, who celebrated his 18th birthday last week, sustained fatal injuries in an apparent fall from a car near Cappamore in the early hours of last Sunday.
Nicola Ryan Luke told mourners in St Michael’s Church that from the moment Donnacha was born, he was a pure rogue. Yet, despite his mischievous antics, he was a kind-hearted and caring, good boy.
“If any of his friends ever needed anything at any time of the day or night he was first to offer his help, often despite my unheeded protests.
“As soon as Donnacha could walk he had a serious love for everything with an engine and a wheel, just like his dad. He was an incredibly hard worker and he poured his money into his many vehicles.”
“From a young age, Donnacha loved all sorts of sports. He always had a ball or a hurley in his hand. He loved nothing better than playing with his beloved Cappamore, and then playing rugby, where he really excelled.”
“After speaking to his teammates and mentors over the past few days, his dad Mikey and I, and his sister Aisling are immensely proud of Donnacha and how he conducted himself with all the teams he was involved with.”
“The past few days have been a testament to Donnacha’s character, the amount of people that have passed through our doors has been incredible. He loved his friends and I’m so grateful he got to create so many memories by going to Santa Ponsa and celebrating his 18th birthday last week. These memories are so precious.”
“As soul destroying as the last few days have been, the support and love shown to our family has been amazing. We can never thank you all enough, there are really no words to express our gratitude.”
“We love our little boy so much and our lives are never really going to be the same,” Ms Ryan added.
Donnacha’s hurley, a rugby ball and his Cappamore GAA jersey were left by his coffin to symbolise his passion for sport.
Cappamore Parish Priest Fr Dick Browne said it was a “confusing and heart-wrenching” time for the Ryan family and the whole local community.
“Donnacha had all of his life in front of him. He had just turned 18, his Leaving Certificate completed. He was into his trucks and cars and tractors and exhausts. He worked with his father – he was his right-hand man.”
“He was good fun, he hurled, he played rugby, he was into his cattle and his two dogs, and especially he was into all his friends.”
Fr Browne told Mr Ryan’s friends, who gathered at the church, “the best way to honour Donnacha is to continue to live your lives to the best of your ability and to try and achieve your goals. Ye will honour him by living your lives decently and honourably”.
Only hours before his death, Mr Ryan had helped ready the site for Cappamore Show, where a minute silence was observed for him last Sunday.
Upwards of 40 tractors joined members of Cappamore GAA Club in a guard of honour as Mr Ryan’s cortège travelled to Doon Cemetery.
Gardai appealed for witnesses to the incident which occurred shortly before 4am last Sunday, “following an incident involving a car and a pedestrian on a local road at Dromsally, near Cappamore”.
Anyone with information should contact Bruff Garda Station 061-382940 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800666111.
