'You will always be our beautiful boy' : Funeral of Shay, 7, who died in tragic drowning, takes place

ONLY THE sound of birds and the occasional quiet murmur broke the silence outside St Senan's Church in Clonlara, as hundreds of people waited to bid farewell to Shay Lynch.

The funeral of the seven-year-old from O'Brien's bridge, who tragically drowned in a hotel swimming pool over the weekend, took place this Wednesday morning, April 24.

He is believed to have been at a celebration at the Lakeside Hotel and Leisure Centre in Ballina/Killaloe when the tragedy occurred on Saturday, April 20.

The sun broke through from behind the clouds, and family along with staff and pupils of Shay's school, Scoil Seanáin Naofa, lined the road outside the church, as the boy's small coffin was carried inside.

The large crowd filled the small parish church, with many more gathering outside in the sunshine to hear the funeral Mass, led by Clonlara parish priest, Father Pat Mulcahy.

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Gifts representing the seven-year-old's life were carried to the altar by friends and family.

His under-9s hurling coach, Joe Moriarty brought up Shay's hurley and Clonlara GAA jersey, accompanied by his son James, to demonstrate Shay's love and pride in his club.

His big sister Abi, "who he adored", brought up a favourite toy accompanied by her cousin Corey, followed by other cousins who brought up his Scoil Seanáin Naofa jumper, his favourite Oreo cookies, and drawings he had done. Shay was a talented young artist.

Another cousin brought up his work pants, work pencil and tools, "symbols of all the great times he had working with his dad James", a builder.

In his eulogy for his son, James Lynch made reference to all the happy times they had spent together, remarking that Shay always said he wanted to be a builder like him and  "already had his apprenticeship started".

Speaking through tears, he remembered Shay as a "gentle, caring and sweet boy", "an amazing artist, and so creative in every way".

"I will miss you coming to work with me, and how you loved putting on your new work pants, and your pencil over your ear."

"I promise I will never leave the first few pieces of timber you cut for your playhouse a few weeks ago away from us, with the lovely pictures you drew on them.

"Abi and I will finish the playhouse the way you wanted it," James continued, speaking from the pulpit with his wife Tania and daughter Abi standing beside him.

"You will always be our beautiful boy Shay-Shay," he finished, before thanking everyone who had helped the family through the darkness of the last few days.

In his sermon, Fr Mulcahy spoke of the happiness that enveloped the community at the start of last weekend, as the good weather broke, baptisms and Confirmations were held in the very church they stood in, and the county anticipated an "epic hurling clash in Cusack Park".

He described how he had greeted Shay's mother Tania, at a Confirmation on Saturday before they went their separate ways, "just another day", and how by that evening, "a dark cloud had descended on our parish community", as the news of the Lynch's family tragedy spread.

"Children are honest, transparent, they don't complicate matters like adults do," Fr Mulcahy said, remarking that all these traits were "very evident in Shay".

Following the service, Shay's schoolmates and teachers, along with members of Clonlara GAA and the wider community, lined either side of the road outside the school - where Shay's mother Tania works - to form a guard of honor for Shay on his final journey.

The funeral cortage paused for a few moments outside the school, before continuing on to St Thomas' Church grounds, Bridgetown where Shay was laid to rest beside his Nana Christina.