Huge crowds thronged the grounds of the Church of the Annunciation in Rathfarnham this morning for the funeral of Berkeley balcony collapse victim Eoghan Culligan (21).
The sun shone brightly in the south Dublin suburb as a large funeral cortege approached down the main road outside the church, flanked by a Garda escort.
A line of students from Mr Culligan’s old school, St Mary’s College in Rathmines, were joined by his team mates from Ballyboden St Enda’s GAA club in a guard of honour which jutted out from the main entrance of the building, and such was the size of the audience the start of the ceremony was delayed for a quarter of an hour as mourners attempted to find a vantage point.
Inside, friends and family of the popular Gaelic footballer brought tributes, offertory gifts and mementos from his life, including signed rugby and Gaelic jerseys, up to the altar and chief celebrant Richard Olin from St Mary's College repeated a quote by Gandalf from Mr Culligan's favourite movie the Lord of the Rings.
Alongside various dignitaries including local Labour Minister Alex White, American ambassador Kevin O’Malley and aides de camp representing the President Michael D. Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny, was the family of Niccolai Schuster, another of the six J1 students who died in California last week.
Mr Schuster’s funeral will take place tomorrow.
Offering their own personal reflections to the congregation, the deceased DIT student's parents Marie and Gerry Culligan grieved the loss of their youngest son.
“We are all heartbroken,” said his father, in a short and poignant oration.
“My dearest Eoghan, you were the light of our lives which brightened up every day. We’ve lost a beacon which will never again shine. Our hearts are broken, however our love will remain intact until the day we die,” added his mother, as she bravely battled with her emotions during a difficult address.
Remembering all those involved in last week’s balcony collapse which left six dead and a further seven injured during a 21st birthday party in Berkeley, Fr Olin referenced the hundreds of J1 visa holders watching an online feed of proceedings, as well as those who were in the same year as the victims from St Mary’s.
“As we gathered around the body of Eoghan and, earlier in the day, the body of Niccolai (Schuster), we were struck by the stillness: that somebody who had been so active, could now be so still. Who responded not to us anymore, and who gave no response when we laid our hands in blessing on his head.”
He continued: “To the class of 2012, you too have tasted that hard and bitter agony in the past few days as you have gathered together to support eachother, to support your colleagues, to support your colleagues and your friends.
“We gather together in tragedy which threatens to overwhelm us. We need to come together to express our fellowship and our support.”
The audience also heard speeches from his older brothers Stephen and Andy, tributes from various friends as well as a poem written and read by girlfriend Sarah McCarthy.
Throughout the service, singers and a choir made up of past pupils from St Mary's performed an array of contemporary songs including Somewhere Only We Know by Keane and 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)' by Green Day.
A recording of Irish artist Paddy Casey's Sweet Suburban Sky rang out as Mr Culligan's coffin was carried to the hearse by some of his friends and family, who were applauded by onlookers as they embraced and comforted eachother at the church gates afterwards.
He was then brought to Mount Jerome Cemetery for burial, which was presided over by Rathfarnham parish priest Fr Martin Noone.