Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral in Co Kilkenny yesterday of Michael Byrne, who collapsed and died last Sunday while playing soccer for River Rangers at the home pitch in Ballykeeffe, near Callan.
Michael (29) was the second in his family to die suddenly during a soccer match. His brother Ken (25) died on the same pitch last year. Their brother, David, also a player with River Rangers, was present on both occasions.
For the third time in 15 months, their mother Carmel, sister Anne and David came to mourn in the 150-year old country church of St Molua in Killaloe.
Michael's coffin, on which were laid his number 9 team jersey and a photograph of him lying in the grass with one of his much-loved dogs, was laid before an altar decorated with cosmos, dahlias and sweet pea from a local garden.
After a reading chosen from the Book of Wisdom - "Their going looked like a disaster, their leaving like annihilation, but they are at peace" - Fr Tom McGree said that the family had asked that the Mass be a celebration of Michael's life, "short and all as it was".
He said it was a celebration because we could "accept the fact that Michael is enjoying heaven with his father Jackie [ who died in February after a long illness and his brother Ken."
Fr McGree said it was a great consolation to Carmel, Anne and David "to imagine what is going on up there, the three of them talking soccer, talking hurling, looking down on them with care written all over their faces".
The prayers for the faithful included a remembrance of Michael's team-mates and a prayer that nothing about Michael's life would be lost that would profit his family and friends.
Among the gifts taken to the altar were a Liverpool jersey and football, a video about legendary Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona, a leash to represent Michael's love for his dogs and a wallet of photographs to represent his talent as a photographer.
"It's too sad, too difficult for our human minds to understand. As a family and a community we are heartbroken again," David's girlfriend, Grace Dermody (20), told the congregation.
"The Byrnes have lost their lovely son and brother, Michael, and nobody can answer why.
"When Ken died, Mick, like Davy, had lost his soul mate. Yet he took up playing soccer with the local team to keep Ken's memory alive and to feel close to Ken. That was proof of his strength of character."
She described the brothers' fanatical interest in soccer and how during the summer, Michael had gone to Wales with his cousin, Edmond, "where they cycled a round trip of 90 miles, up hill and down, all to watch a soccer match".
Michael was a private person, she said, who loved his home and was devoted to the two dogs, Holly and Max.
Grace concluded: "Words are useless to tell how much we will miss his gentle, kind nature, his sense of humour and his love for us."
The Liverpool anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone, was played as Michael's coffin was carried from the church. A guard of honour from River Rangers, led by club secretary Gerry Dunne, escorted their team-mate to his resting place in Ballykeeffe Cemetery, beside his brother and his father.
The FAI was represented by chief executive John Delaney.