10-year-old soccer fan laid to rest after two-year cancer fight
Mourners wept openly as they bade a moving farewell to Man Utd and Kerry football fan Dylan Crowley, 10, in his native Rathmore.
An overflow congregation at a concelebrated requiem Mass, in St Joseph’s Church, Rathmore, heard how Dylan had brought great joy to his family and friends and was described by his brother, Bryan, 15, as “an angel that slipped out of God’s hands”.
His parents, Christy, a well-known GAA referee and insurance official, and Eileen, are prominent in sporting circles. He has a sister, Emer, 13.
Among the gifts to symbolise his life, handed up prior to the Mass, were a Manchester United match programme, a Gaelic football, swimming goggles, a rosary beads and statues and a school jumper.
In a homily, chief concelebrant Fr Pat O’Donnell recalled another Mass for Dylan, a few months ago, and said even though their prayers were then full of hope, they left the church with “a dawning realisation we could find ourselves at this day’.’
He said Dylan, despite his illness, lived each day with relish: his family were broken-hearted, but felt blessed to have journeyed with him and would always have a special place for him in their hearts.
The Rathmore parish priest said Dylan had a deep faith with a special attachment to St Padre Pio and St Raphael the Archangel.
Fr O’Donnell said his brother, Bryan, had described him as a brave and remarkable little man, with a huge heart and a beaming smile, even with all the difficulties he faced.
Bryan also wrote: “We will forever have an angel looking down on us and guiding us through the titanic struggle we will face. We will always have the memories of the little man we loved so dearly. Thanks Dylan for touching our lives. We will meet again some day.’’
Juvenile members of Gneeveguilla GAA club, with whom he had played football, provided a guard-of-honour and he was buried in Rathmore cemetery.
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