Village gathers in grief as crash victim is laid to rest

A TIGHTKNIT village was left wondering yesterday how much more grief they could take as they gathered for the second time in 24 hours to bury a young member of their community.

A number of Cork City soccer players including Colin O’Brien, Billy Woods, John O’Flynn and captain Dan Murray were among the guard of honour formed at the funeral of 19-year-old James Sexton.

The talented sportsman died following an accident on the outskirts of Fermoy last Sunday night along with his friend, Michael Murphy, 22, who was buried on Wednesday.

Cork City players were accompanied to yesterday’s funeral by their manager, Damien Richardson.

Several GAA officials were also in attendance and paid their last respects to a young man who played hurling at senior level with the Castlelyons club, of which his father, Seamus, is chairman.

James, a former under-15 Irish soccer international, was a regular of the Cork City under-21 squad. Members of that squad also turned up to pay their last respects.

St Nicholas’ Church in Castlelyons was packed and speakers were put up so those outside could hear the requiem Mass said by curate Fr Dan McCarthy.

He said the community was saddened that James had been with them for such a short time, but that he’d now been entrusted to the care of God, where he would live “ever-radiant”.

“This church over the years has seen many funerals, all sad, some tragic. But when death comes unexpectedly as a result of an accident it is almost too much to take in,” said Fr McCarthy.

He tried to comfort mourners by saying that even when Jesus was being crucified he asked why God had forsaken him. Fr McCarthy said many people felt forsaken and couldn’t comprehend how two young lives could have been lost. “But God didn’t abandon Jesus, James or us,” the curate said.

Fr McCarthy then quoted from the Laurence Binyon poem For The Fallen, dedicated to a generation wiped out in the first world war.

“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them,” he said.

Fr McCarthy said that James, who was a carpenter had fitted such a lot into his short life. “He was a reflective young man and a credit to his mother and father. He was completely dedicated to everything he was involved in. When someone is greatly loved they will be greatly missed and that’s why so many people have come here,” he added.

The offertory gifts included James’ carpenter’s belt, a piece of his woodwork, a Cork City jersey signed by all the senior and under-21 players, his football boots and a Castlelyons GAA jersey.

The Sextons asked for prayers for the Murphy family, a number of whom also attended the funeral.