Swimmer had courage to ‘dive in and make a difference’

The “heroic and inspirational” traits of swimmer Páraic Casey who died while attempting to cross the English Channel for charity were remembered at his requiem Mass over the weekend.

Mr Casey, from Mariners’ View, Passage West, Co Cork, died from a heart attack on Jul 22 just 1km from the French coast. He was undertaking the challenge to raise funds for Marymount Hospice in Cork and St Vincent de Paul.

On Saturday, at Páraic’s requiem Mass at St Columba’s Church in Douglas, Cork, chief celebrant, Fr Tom Hayes, said the swimming enthusiast had a visible passion for life.