HUNDREDS OF teammates, friends and family of Shane Geoghegan attended a memorial Mass for the murdered rugby player in Limerick last night.
The ceremony was held at Garryowen Rugby Football Club in Dooradoyle, where Mr Geoghegan (28) captained the thirds team.
He was shot dead in the early hours of last Sunday near his home in Kilteragh, having apparently been mistaken for a convicted drug dealer who lives in the same estate.
Speaking at the ceremony, chief celebrant Fr Gerard Garrett, a brother of former Garryowen president John Garrett, reflected on the tragic circumstances of Mr Geoghegan's death. "Often we feel angry and helpless and confused in the face of sudden and tragic death, even more so when it was mindless and needless and the product of greed, hatred and violence founded on evil," he said.
The people of Limerick united in grief over Mr Geoghegan's death earlier this week, as thousands attended his funeral Mass at St Joseph's Church on O'Connell Avenue on Wednesday. However, last night's Mass was a more private ceremony, with Mr Geoghegan's father Tom, brother Anthony and fiancée Jenna Barry among those in attendance.
"I expect that you each knew a different Shane and different experiences of him at different stages in his life when your paths crossed. He was a son, a brother, a fiancé, a sporting colleague and work colleague," said Fr Garrett.
"None of us can be so presumptuous as to try and sum him up in a few words, but he was many good things."
Garryowen RFC confirmed earlier this week that the number three jersey is to be retired across all teams for the rest of the season in honour of Mr Geoghegan.
Club secretary Eoghan Prendergast said Mr Geoghegan was a beloved friend of everyone at Garryowen, and that the memorial Mass was "a chance for his close friends and family to say goodbye in our own way". Members of Garryowen RFC formed a guard of honour for Mr Geoghegan's coffin at his funeral.
A public protest against Mr Geoghegan's killing due to take place in Limerick this afternoon was cancelled yesterday due to unforeseen circumstances, according to organisers.
A minute's silence is to be held for Mr Geoghegan before this afternoon's test match between Ireland and New Zealand at Croke Park. A similar tribute will take place at the Munster vs New Zealand match at Thomond Park in Limerick on Tuesday night.