Crowds come to pay respects to an inspirational young man
Shocked and weeping openly, teenage boys and girls hugged and comforted each other as they assembled at the Walsh home in Blennerville, outside Tralee, where the 16-year-old cancer victim reposed.
Today, some leading Munster rugby players, whom Dónal befriended, are expected to shoulder his coffin.
His favourite player, Paul O’Connell, a friend since he was first diagnosed four years ago, visited him just hours prior to his death at home on Sunday before heading off to the Lions training camp.
Gardaí were on traffic duty yesterday as a constant stream of sympathisers came to pay their respects for more than six hours. His distraught parents, Fionnbar and Elma, and sister Jema, graciously received them all. His sports jerseys rested poignantly on the coffin.
Kathleen Lynch, the mental health minister, who has announced that a video featuring Dónal will be at the centre of a national campaign on suicide prevention, also attended.
Former tánaiste Dick Spring, Kerry football manager Eamon Fitzmaurice, and Kerry players Kieran Donaghy, Bryan Sheehan, Killian Young, and Marc Ó Sé, to name just a few, also came to show their respects to the inspirational young man.
There, too, was coroner Terence Casey, who praised Dónal’s public stand on suicide and his plea to his peers not to take their lives. “He was an absolutely heroic young lad,” he said.
A wintry day of heavy showers and dark clouds reflected the overall mood.
In Dónal’s school, Tralee CBS, principal Anne O’Callaghan said there had been a sombre atmosphere since his death, with teachers and pupils very moved.
All will attend the funeral service today in nearby St John’s Church. His final day in school was the last day before the Easter holidays.
At his request, his 5A classmates will provide an honour guard for the cortege from the Walsh home, about 3km outside the town, to the church.
Over the past two days, many of the CBS students visited what’s known as a “quiet room” in the school where they lit candles, reflected, and prayed for him.
Ms O’Callaghan said Dónal had a pleasant way about him and was unfailingly polite and constructive. “He never caused an ounce of trouble and there was that lovely smile that we will remember.”
A school notice board featured a collection of press cuttings about his fundraising activities, including €8,000 by the students for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital. The following words stood out in bold, black print: “Look, read, and be touched and inspired.”
He helped collect €50,000 for the hospital.
One of the last fundraising projects in which he was involved is a boxing tournament in aid of Our Lady’s Hospital, scheduled for May 25, in the Brandon Hotel, Tralee.
Last night, Tralee Boxing Club confirmed the tournament will go ahead with the support of the Walsh family. It is now expected to be the biggest boxing event ever in Tralee, according to the club’s Pat O’Shea.
“We find it hard enough to raise funds for ourselves, but we had so much respect for Dónal that we decided to something for him that was close to his heart,’’ he said.
“It looks at the moment as if we’re going to run out of tickets because everyone wants to support the tournament. Every cent made will go to Crumlin.’’
Dónal’s remains will be removed from his home this morning to arrive in St John’s Church for requiem Mass at noon.
Members of Tralee Rugby Club and Kerins O’Rahillys GAA Club will flank the hearse on the final leg of the journey to the church. Hundreds of students from various schools in Tralee will form an honour guard in the church grounds.
He will be laid to rest in Rath Cemetery, Tralee.
