‘Normal is a word that will never again be used’

THE sun shone brightly yesterday, but it couldn’t hide the pain of a town that bid farewell to two young local men who died in a car crash on Sunday.

A haunting silence fell over Castleisland, Co Kerry, as Freddie Ryan, 31, and Patrick (Pa) O’Reilly, 26, were laid to rest.

The men were close friends, but opposites in personality — Freddie the extrovert, Pa the quiet one.

Both died instantly in the two-car, head-on collision on the Castleisland/Limerick road along with Jason Toolan, 18, of Kilmorna, Listowel, who was also buried yesterday.

Fr Padraig Kennelly, who was chief celebrant of two concelebrated funeral Masses in the Church of St Stephen and St John, Castleisland, said it was a “tragically difficult time” for the families of Freddie and Pa. Directly speaking to the families, he said: “There’s very little to say at a time like this. Your lives have been turned upside down and words mean very little. As a community, we can only support you and pray with and for you.”

Both men were avid Manchester United fans and the club’s red jersey lay on top of each coffin. Freddie Ryan was buried in his Man Utd strip.

During one of the readings, a member of the Ryan family, said the two men “will be having a pint with George Best in Heaven tonight”.

A congregation of around 600 was in the church for both services, many of them young people who wept and looked stunned.

In a homily during the Mass for Freddie, Fr Kennelly, who had attended the scene of the accident, said it had been like a nightmare for his family since Sunday.

They were hoping they would wake up from the nightmare and that life would continue as normal.

“But normal is a word that will never again be used by the Ryan family, from whom Freddie was taken so quickly. They’ve been left devastated and heart-broken,” Fr Kennelly said.

He said Freddie, who worked in Rhyno Mills animal feed factory in Castleisland, would be remembered for his lovely smile, pleasant face, roguish eye and someone who was always in good form. Fr Kennelly also said Freddie was an accomplished Irish dancer, a fine singer and brilliant mimic, adding jocosely: “No one was safe when he was around.”

At the Mass for Pa, Fr Kennelly said his mother, Anne, had to face the devastation of a fatal accident for the second time in her life, as her mother had died in a car accident in June 1977.

“Twenty-six is too young to die, so many things to do, so many plans, so many dreams, so much to accomplish,” the priest said.

He said Pa always put other people first and could never say no to anybody.

He and his fiancé, Marcella, had great plans and dreams for the future, but all those were shattered last Sunday.

One of three boys, Pa, an electrician, was the son of John Joe and Anne O’Reilly. Freddie Ryan is survived by his parents, Joe and Noreen, and five brothers.