Family’s farewell to sports-mad brothers
And the poignant football anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ as played as the bodies of Darren, 27, David, 24, and Ryan Doyle, 17, departed the Church of the Sacred Heart in Kilanarden, Tallaght, Dublin, for cremation nearby.
During the Mass, Fr Manus Ferry spoke of his parish’s pain at the tragic death of the three young men.
He noted they had all been baptised in the same church.
The funeral of Lee Bryan, a fourth victim of the crash in Co Offaly last Friday, takes place at 2pm today in St Paul’s Church, Portarlington.
The Doyle family had relocated to the Co Laois town five years ago.
The dead boys’ mother Angela was supported by her husband John and family members during the Mass, which was concelebrated by Portarlington parish priest Fr Tom Dooley.
Fr Ferry said: “This parish extends its deepest sympathy to the family.
“We are all hurt. Our hearts are full of pain. The whole country was shocked and saddened.
“It’s difficult to find words in such a tragedy but we must remember that death is not the end of life, but the door we must walk through to a more glorious life as Jesus welcomes Ryan, Darren, and David to the place he has prepared for them.”
Having already coped with the loss of son John 13 years ago, the boys’ mother was visibly distressed, her sobs echoing the doleful sentiment of two communities mourning the loss of four young lives.
Their eldest brother Jason gave the eulogy, in which he reminisced upon the special relationship his three brothers shared.
“Darren and David really were two peas in a pod and when Ryan came along, instead of just being two best friends, there were three.”
Darren is survived by partner Mary Duff and their two children, Sean, 2, and three-month-old Kayla.
David had two children, Chloe, 6, and Jordan, 4.
Jason also spoke of their devotion to the family they had left behind.
“Darren and Mary built a solid and loving foundation for Kayla and Sean, while Chloe and Jordan really were the apple of David’s eye.
“No words can describe the devastation the news reaped on our family but, at least, we know that Ryan, David and Darren are together now.”
He thanked the congregation for their support, as well as the paramedics who attempted to resuscitate his brothers.
All three, he said, had been avid sports fans, loving everything from soccer and Gaelic games to boxing and darts.
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