Dylan Coady Coleman's organ donation has worked 'five or six miracles', funeral hears

Priest tells mourners the ten-year-old had expressed a desire to be an organ donor but that 'sadly, no one thought that it would happen so, so quickly'

The funeral Mass for ten-year-old Dylan Coady Coleman took place at Mary Immaculate Church in Shannon on Sunday. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Shannon schoolboy, Dylan Coady Coleman (10) “has worked five or six miracles by giving new life and hope” to others with the donation of his organs.

That is according to Shannon co-parish priest, Fr Michael Geraghty who paid tribute to "loving child" Dylan at the end of the funeral Mass at a packed Mary Immaculate Church in Shannon.

Dylan died on Wednesday from injuries sustained in a tragic road accident in Shannon last Sunday —  just one day after his mother, Laura gave birth to his new brother, Shane.

On Sunday, Laura cradled six-day-old Shane in her arms as she walked behind Dylan’s white coffin up the church aisle to the sound of the Liverpool FC anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ at the start of the funeral Mass.

Dylan Coady-Coleman died after a road accident in Shannon last Sunday — just one day after his mother, Laura gave birth to his new brother, Shane. 

The Liverpool colours were draped over Dylan's small coffin. The packed church later heard a poignant tribute, 'Why we love Dylan', that his young sister, Zoe had put together while he lay in hospital during the week.

Read out to mourners by a relative, Zoe said they love Dylan “because he is the best, because he helps when I’m hurt and because he cares about us” and because he is super funny "and how he reads me books and how he annoys Dad with his quirky ways”.

Zoe wrote “We just love him”.

At the Mass, mourners complied with the family’s wishes to wear jersey tops and odd socks in tribute to the little boy.

Jerseys presented as symbols of Dylan’s life at the start of the Mass included a Liverpool top, an Ireland rugby top, and Dylan’s blue Shannon Town soccer jersey.

Other gifts included his Xbox controller, a pair of binoculars he used to watch aircraft with, Lego, and two small cuddly toys.

Co-parish priest for Shannon, Fr Tom Whelan said "Dylan’s accident and subsequent passing has certainly brought a stop to this parish.

"It is almost as if a dark cloud just covered Shannon. And the people are most assuredly lost for words and that great sense that all we want to do something has been evident here today and every day since.

Dylan Coady Coleman's love of sport was reflected by mourners wearing rugby and soccer colours. And among the symbols on the altar were Liverpool FC, Ireland rugby, and Shannon Town soccer club shirts. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

"All we want to do is to do something to help but sadly we can’t change the reality that is now present.

He recounted going to Dylan's school: "There is a huge sense in this community of shock, sadness and loss. Sadness is present everywhere and I found it especially during the week in Dylan’s school, St Tola’s."

"I just think of the care and the devotion of all teaching staff to the pupils in their care. It is so obvious in St Tola’s and all of the schools in the Shannon parish. They have such a close bond to the children they are looking after.

"Certainly when I went into St Tola’s the tears in the eyes of so many teachers on my visit said it all. Their hearts are with you Garry and with Laura and with all of the family."

Fr Whelan said that Dylan was a very normal, very loving child and "there was something very caring about Dylan".

He said: "there was something easy to attach to — a loving child, so highly regarded in his school”.

Fr Whelan revealed that there was recently a discussion in Dylan’s class about organ donation.

He said that "when Dylan came home that day — that was what he talked about with his family. It really was top of his agenda that day and saying that he would certainly want to be an organ donor. Sadly no one thought that it would happen so, so quickly."

"But Dylan has now given life to a number of other people by being a donor. This is extremely important to his family and they would certainly encourage everyone to think seriously about being an organ donor."

Fr Whelan said: "The people who know Dylan best are his family and it is parents Garry and Laura who will forever have the most beautiful memories of Dylan."

He added that the family is grateful for all the support they have received from the Shannon community and are especially grateful of the air ambulance service last Sunday, the support of An Garda Síochána, and all those in the health service including staff at Temple Street Hospital.

Dylan’s remains were later laid to rest at the nearby Illaunmanagh Cemetery.