The second of two funerals for a pair of Irish schoolchildren whose lives were tragically cut short on the picturesque Greek island of Ios took place today, with the deceased’s loyal golden retrievers accompanying mourners as they buried him.
Andrew O’Donnell, an 18-year-old with “a kind heart” and a “sense of humor that could brighten the darkest of days,” according to Mgr Ciarán O’Carroll, was fired by a grieving Church community. of Sacred Heart in Donnybrook, Dublin, this morning.
Andrew’s mother, Bebhinn, was seen grabbing the parson in an anguished hug outside the church, while Andrew’s two dogs, Marnie and Maisie, waited patiently behind.
The venue was packed to capacity as mourners gathered to pay their respects to the young man whose “untimely passing left us all shocked and saddened”, Mr O’Carroll said.
During the funeral mass, Andrew’s friends brought symbols of his life to the altar, including sports paraphernalia, a Kanye West album and a dog leash, a touching tribute to his love for his golden retrievers.
O’Donnell’s funeral mass comes two days after his friend Max Wall, 18, was buried in the same church.
Bebhinn O’Donnell, the mother of 18-year-old Andrew O’Donnell, is comforted by the parish priest outside Sacred Heart Church, Donnybrook, Dublin.
Andrew O’Donnell is pictured with one of his golden retrievers.
The coffin of 18-year-old Andrew O’Donnell is carried to Sacred Heart Church, Donnybrook, Dublin.
The coffin of 18-year-old Andrew O’Donnell is carried to Sacred Heart Church, Donnybrook, Dublin, before his funeral. Andrew was one of two recently graduated Leaving Cert students from St. Michael’s College in Dublin who died on the Greek island of Ios earlier this month.
Father Paddy Moran, chaplain at St Michael’s College which both boys attended, spoke of the bright future that Andrew cruelly snatched from Andrew by a simple fall.
“We are here for the saddest of reasons, to say goodbye to a beloved son, a beloved older brother,” he solemnly declared, according to The Irish Times.
The priest highlighted Andrew’s infectious smile when talking about his dogs and his immense passion for sports, particularly his unwavering support for Liverpool FC and the Irish rugby team.
He went on to describe Andrew as “a real gem.”
Andrew’s family said: ‘Our beloved Andrew passed from this world too soon. Andrew passed away unexpectedly leaving a void that can never be filled.
‘Andrew brought immense joy to the lives of his family, friends and everyone who knew him.
“He had a vibrant spirit, a kind heart, and a sense of humor that brightened the darkest of days. He was known for his passion for sports, his soccer talent, his charming demeanor and his love for his two golden retrievers, Marnie and Maisie.
“He was unfailingly loyal to his friends and family, in Ireland and England, and touched the lives of many during his brief time with us, including those with whom he shared experiences at St. Matthew’s National School, St. Michael’s College Secondary School , Old Belvedere RFC and Belmont FC.’
Andrew, along with his classmate Max Wall, were on a post-exam trip to the Greek island of Ios when tragedy struck.
The circumstances surrounding Andrew’s death took place on a rocky hill outside Hora, the main city of Ios.
Separated from a friend during a walk home from a night out, Andrew is believed to have suffered a fatal fall.
Her body was discovered the next day, leaving her loved ones devastated. Just hours later, tragedy struck once more when Max collapsed near the island’s harbor upon hearing the news of Andrew’s passing.
Preliminary post-mortem examinations by the Greek authorities determined that Andrew’s cause of death was head injuries resulting from the fall, while Max’s death was attributed to a heart problem with which he had been struggling.
Andrew O’Donnell (right) and Max Wall (left) died on the school trip to Ios to celebrate the end of high school.
Max Wall’s father, Niall Wall, told mourners his son was ‘robbed of a bright future’
Heartbreaking footage showed Max Wall’s coffin being carried to Sacred Heart Church, Donnybrook, Dublin.
Andrew’s body was discovered on the morning of Sunday, July 2, hours after he suffered a fall. Max Wall collapsed and was later pronounced dead just hours later on Sunday afternoon.
On Monday, it was revealed that Max was talking to his father when he collapsed shortly after. discovering that his missing schoolmate Andrew has been found dead.
Fr Moran told the packed funeral service in Dublin of Max’s last moments and how sudden his death was.
Max was walking to the ferry when he died. He was talking to Niall, his father, who told me yesterday that Max was loud on the phone,” Father Moran said.
One second Max was alive and the next he wasn’t. It was as fast as that. Max did not suffer. He wasn’t afraid. He died listening to the voice of the father who loved him. There is comfort in that,’ he added.
Max’s parents described their son as a “force of nature” whose loss is “profound cruelty”.
The south Dublin teenager was ‘deprived of a bright future’, his father Niall told mourners at the funeral in Donnybrook on Monday.
“Max was full of life… He had a real thirst to see the world and experience as much as he could,” he said, according to the Irish Times.
“Max was an amazing brother to Charlie, they were true best friends.” And he added: ‘We will love him forever.’
Speaking after his funeral at The Church of the Scared Heart, his mother Fiona said: ‘Max our dear boy, we love you forever, we miss you forever. You were a force of nature and your memory will live on.
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