HUNDREDS OF mourners turned out yesterday evening for the removal of Simon Delaney (21), the former Cavan under-21 goalkeeper, who died in a drowning tragedy on Wednesday.
The mourners were led by his parents Joseph and Mary, by his brother Wayne and his sister Sharon. His girlfriend Siobhán Brady, who had just returned from America on Wednesday evening, also attended, as did his friend Anthony Brady, who was involved in the rescue attempt which claimed the life of Mr Delaney.
The cortege made its way from Mr Delaney’s house to St Ultan’s Church in Killinkere.
His coffin bore the county and local team colours. A guard of honour was provided by his teammates from Killinkere and by the local camogie team.
A minute’s silence at all championship matches in Cavan will be held this weekend for Mr Delaney who died, along with another young man, trying to rescue a family of six people who got into trouble when their boat capsized on Gallon Lough near his home.
Officials from the board along with club and county players will form another guard of honour when Mr Delaney’s body is brought from St Ultan’s Church to the local cemetery for burial after funeral Mass this morning at 11am.
Mr Delaney, who was training as an electrician, was on his way to a football match between his club Killinkere and Laragh United when he got out of his car and went to try and rescue the family at about 6.45pm on Wednesday.
He and Matthew Gibbons (20), De Valera Park, off Dorset Street, Dublin, both drowned in the rescue attempt. All the family members who were in the water survived the tragedy.
A statement from the Cavan County Board said it was “deeply saddened” by the death of Mr Delaney who played minor and under-21 football for Cavan.
“The Cavan County Board and all Gaels of Cavan offer their prayers and sympathy to the Delaney family at this most tragic time,” the statement said. “He died during an act of bravery in trying to save those people.”
The board described Mr Delaney as “a quiet unassuming young man”.
The removal of Mr Gibbons takes place this evening at 5pm to St Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner Street, with funeral Mass on Monday morning at 10am.
His family accompanied his body home yesterday.
Mr Gibbons was a mechanic who had gone to visit a friend, Warren Behan, who lives in Ballyjamesduff. Mr Behan had also joined in the rescue attempt.
It is the second tragedy to affect the Gibbons family in recent years as his older brother, Valentine, died of sudden adult death syndrome two years ago.
St Francis Xavier parish priest Fr Donal Neary SJ said Mr Gibbons had a reputation as being somebody who wanted to help others. “The rescue attempt would be typical of him,” he said.
