A HURL, A toy tractor, a toy cow and sporting medals were among the gifts presented at the funeral of 16-year-old Donal English-Hayden today.
The teenager died in a farm accident in the small village of Rathoe, Co. Carlow on Wednesday. His parents, grandmother and six siblings were the chief mourners in Saint Patrick’s Church in the village today.
Father Conn Ó Maoldhomhnaigh was the chief celebrant at the Mass, he had heard Dónal’s first confession, given him his First Holy Communion and confirmed him in the faith.
He described the young man as ‘affectionate caring and tender’.
He asked questions; he had an inquiring mind; he was straightforward; he was honest. He was ceanndána, headstrong. Being a son of the soil he loved animals, especially cows. He kept rabbits. He liked trees. He had an interest in planting and growing things. He enjoyed red sauce, jelly and ice-cream.
The boy was killed when a tractor and trailer being driven by a local farmer collapsed and overturned into a ditch containing water.
Dónal had three brothers and three sisters. His brother brother Seamus presented a hurl at toady’s mass with with cousins Eric English, Cathal Hayden and Kieran Buckley also bringing gifts.
During the course of his homily, Father Ó Maoldhomhnaigh said that the English-Hayden family have been ‘enveloped in God’s embrace’ in the support they received from their community since Wednesday’s tragedy.
The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty also sent a message of support to the family ahead of today’s Mass.
“My simple message, on this difficult day for all of you, is to remind you as you have witnessed in recent days, you are not alone, and will never be alone,” he said”.
After today’s mass, Dónal will be buried at the cemetery adjourning Saint Patrick’s Church.
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