Limerick family pays tribute to their ‘kind’ and ‘caring’ Colin, 21

“AS A big brother, I try and be a role model to my younger siblings but that role has been reversed. I look up to my little brother now”.

These were the words of Dylan O'Dwyer, the older brother of 21 year-old Colin who passed away on November 22 from a rare cancer.

Colin's family want to remember the former St Munchin's student as the quiet and kind young man they knew best.

Sadness after passing of young Limerick sportsman

Dylan told Limerick Live: “He wasn't shy but he was quiet. He was a gentle soul and never caused a bit of trouble.

“He loved his Playstation and he was a sport fanatic.

“He never asked for anything. Up until he got his first job and started getting a bit of money, he wore a pair of Vans that were nearly walking off him!

“Then he started getting paid and he got into fashion. Every time mam heard the doorbell she knew it was another package for Colin”.

After leaving secondary school, Colin (pictured) started studying at TUS before taking a break when he got a job at Johnson & Johnson.

One of four siblings, it is the memories of growing up with Colin and their two sisters Emma and Ciara that Dylan says he will remember the most.

“Some people might be afraid to talk about Colin but I don't want to stop talking about him because I am so proud of how strong and brave he was.

“We want to remember Colin for who he was before he got sick”.

At the beginning of 2022, Colin started experiencing pains in his leg and abdomen. He was given antibiotics. However, his parents were insistent that he be sent for more checks.

Just a few weeks later on March 1, Colin was diagnosed with stage four Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare form of cancer.

Colin started treatment for the aggressive disease at St Vincent's in Dublin. The chemotherapy started to help the tumours, however, due to how it affects the organs, doctors had to stop and other chemotherapy treatments did not take effect on Colin's body.

Even though Colin had just finished a course of the strongest chemo available, nicknamed the Red Devil, Dylan said that did not stop him from living his life.

“He went on holiday with his girlfriend Katie. He was in Croke Park at the All-Ireland final and he went to see Ed Sheeran.

“Then his illness started to spread. A tumour on his spine caused nerve damage and he lost movement in his legs.

“It slowly spread to his arms, then his neck and his voice went but he did not complain once”.

Dylan continued: “He had strength like nothing I have ever seen before. Even when he had no voice you would still get a smirk or an eyebrow raise.

“I am devastated and heartbroken at what the disease did to him but my brother is not sad to talk about”.

Thankfully, Colin got to meet the newest member of the family before he passed away. Dylan's partner Megan gave birth to baby Riley two weeks early and Colin was “buzzing” to be an uncle.

Dylan summed up how his family wanted Colin to be remembered very simply.

“He was sport loving, kind, gentle, a best friend, the best brother and son, the best boyfriend and the best student.

“The Colin that was there before March 1 is the Colin we will remember”.