'Gentle' young man struck on M7 'was everything you could ask for in a teacher', funeral told

Offertory gifts included a canoe paddle representing the time Brendan spent with the Thomastown Paddlers Canoe Club. Photo: Thomastown Paddlers canoe club

A young teacher who died after being struck while walking on the M7 in Co. Kilkenny early last Saturday morning had a comforting and kind demeanour and a passion for his vocation which made learning easy for his students, his requiem mass has heard.

Brendan Fitzpatrick of Powerswood, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, was struck by a vehicle travelling northbound between Junction 10 and 11 at around 4am last Saturday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been walking home when the tragedy occurred.