Tragic Ultan continues to give through organ donation

Mourners were told yesterday that even in death, 8-year-old Ultan Hayes has kept on giving — by donating organs to four others, three of them children.

Addressing a packed Mass of the Angels at St Caimin’s Church in Mountshannon, Co Clare, Ultan’s mother, Orla, yesterday paid tribute “to our most wonderful boy”.

As part of the offertory procession, a donor card was offered up and mourners were told “even in death, Ultan showed his unflinching determination to help others and to always give back”.

“Ultan’s gift has hopefully allowed four other people, three of them children, to live a full, rewarding, and loved life. In these people, as well as our hearts, he will always live on.”

Ultan died last Friday after sustaining serious injuries in a quad bike accident. His father, Brian, was driving the vehicle near the family’s home when the accident happened on Thursday night.

Yesterday’s mass booklet contained handwritten messages from Ultan’s brother Oisín and sister Alannah, with Oisín, 9, also drawing a picture of Ultan with a hurley and sliotar.

He wrote: “To Ultan, I don’t know what to say, so I will just tell you how I am feeling. I am really, really sad. I will miss you so, so much. You always played with me, you always standed up for me.”

Alannah wrote: “It’ll never be same without you, we will all miss you and love you forever, Love Alannah.”

Among the other gifts were Ultan’s ballet shoes and a magic set. He was buried at Clonrush Cemetery.