Mourners remember Chada boys' short but joy-filled lives

Last Sunday they were in their local church, full of excitement and energy as they helped their grandmother collect leaflets and tidy up; yesterday they were buried side by side in the graveyard outside as their mother Kathleen, other family, friends, and community looked on.

Ripples of laughter punctuated stunned silence yesterday as the people of Ballinkillen reflected on the short but joy-filled lives of Eoghan and Ruairi Chada, but mostly the sounds were those of grief.

The packed church and the hundreds who sat and stood outside heard how Eoghan, 10, wanted to be a chef, practiced his magic tricks on his little brother, and bought a calf with his Holy Communion money.