Grieving community’s final farewell to Michael
Three days ago, the shocking school bus crash claimed the life of the popular teenager, the only son of local publican Michael White and his wife Martina.
His family were consoled by hundreds of mourners, including members of the McKeown family - owners of the ill-fated bus - at the funeral yesterday.
Michael’s teary-eyed school friends sat in the front pews of St Brigid’s Church, many clinging to each other for support. Some of them still had arms in slings or bandages as a result of the crash.
His family sat in the next aisle, overcome with sadness at the sudden death of their son, brother, cousin, nephew and grandson.
The church was packed to capacity as people came to pay their respects.
Speaking at the funeral, Fr Paddy Keary said last Tuesday morning started out like any other morning.
“Michael as usual at 8.10am got on the school bus out to Killina and as the bus filled up with students, there was laughter and joking, when suddenly their whole world was turned upside down out on the bog road,” he said.
He pointed out the close bond within the White family, in particular between Michael and his recently deceased grandmother.
“There were so many plans. There was so much to hope for him,” he added.
Fr Keary looked at Michael’s school friends, some of whom were openly sobbing.
“I am sure that you will notice the empty chair in the classroom, that missing face in the crowd. Somebody that you know should be there is not,” he said.
The celebrant said what it was about now was cherishing every memory of Michael and the 15 years he had with everyone.
“Treasure the memories,” he said.
Gifts were brought to the alter, marking significant stages of the teenager’s life.
They included pictures of Michael with his 12-year-old sister, Ciara, and his grandmother.
The 15-year-old also had a great love of poker so a pack of cards and a poker chip were brought to the altar. He loved playing poker with his cousins and friends and was trying to organise a tournament.
His locker key stood for his school life and his great dedication to his studies.
A school trip souvenir represented a milestone in the teenager’s life as it was the first time away from home on his own.
An essay Michael wrote earlier in the year was also read out.
Outside, in the cold April air, school friends formed a guard of honour to say their final goodbyes.
Parents Martina and Michael hugged each other as their daughter placed flowers on her brother’s coffin.
Thump, thump goes my mother’s heart
The chords echo in the walls of my surroundings
Soothing me to breath
Floating inside a dark anxious space
As I stretch out my short limbs
They brush against the cushion border of my small belly
Sometimes my world is very small, sometimes big ...
Each day I’m growing and each day I’m starting to shrink, I can sense my surroundings were preparing me for something,
Something out of the ordinary,
Something that would change my life forever,
Sometimes I can hear distant noises, (from afar)
Noises I have never heard before, I open my eyes to stare over at two figures
Who create more noise than I had ever heard,
Eventually I was conveyed to the arms of a woman,
At first I was so frightened, I wailed,
But then, this woman held me closely and one familiar sound returned
A sound that I missed,
A sound that told me who this woman was,
Thump, thump,
At this point I knew I was safe,
In the hands of my mother
And I listened to the fading,
Thump, thump, thump.
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