The funeral of a "much-loved" schoolboy who died after a quad accident heard he was a "fun-loving young man" who "packed a lot of living" into his life.
Tiarnán Trainor died in hospital after an incident involving a quad bike on the Low Road in Killeavy on January 2.
The 13-year-old was the "loved and cherished" son of Conor and Majella Campbell, Conor’s partner Sharon and Majella’s partner Scott, as well as a much-loved brother of Aimee and Ellie-Mae.
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Mourners gathered at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Jonesborough on Tuesday, January 7 to celebrate Tiarnán, affectionately known as TT, life and share condolences with the young boy's family in this difficult time.
The funeral heard that Tiarnán, who was a pupil at St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, 'touched so many lives' and was a blessing to all those who knew and loved him.
His loved ones brought a number of symbols to the altar that reminded them of the person he was and mark his life - they included photos of Tiarnán and his siblings, a belt buckle gifted to him by his aunt, his welly boots and a toy lorry.
The congregation heard that the young man had aspirations to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncles and become a lorry driver when he grew up.
The priest said: "Grief and anguish have descended over most of South Armagh since last Thursday. All of us are heartbroken at the sudden and untimely nature of Tiarnán's passing because it is a very different kind of loss."
He continued: "Tiarnán was an energetic, funny, bubbly wee boy, who was one of life's characters.
"One of his interests was reading. His mother Majella told me Tiarnán liked to read newspapers and articles on Irish history and was also interested in family history and where his grandparents had come from and where their stories came from and that gave him a sense of his place in the world."
Mourners were told of Tiarnán's admiration for his cousin David who travelled home from Australia to attend the mass and that he looked up to David and asked him to be his sponsor at his Confirmation.
Tiarnán was a passionate sportsperson and enjoyed playing for numerous local and school teams as well as a great supporter of Armagh and their All-Ireland success.
The priest continued: "As well as being a fun-loving young man, Tiernan was a very good child. He was kind to his two sisters, Amy and Ellie Mae, whom he had a great relationship with.
"He adored his parents, Majella and Connor and he was thoughtful towards his grandparents, Granny Teresa and Granny Gervase on the Campbell side of the family, and Granny Mary and Grandad Donal on the Trainor side of the family.
"Tiarnán's goodness was also matched by good manners. His manners were impeccable - he always said please and thank you."
Described as an "outgoing" and "happy child" who was adored by everyone who crossed his path, Tiarnán was said to have "packed a lot of living into his 13 years".
The mourners heard from two of Tiarnán's best friends who paid touching tributes to the young man and said they will miss him for the rest of their lives.
A message was read on behalf of his brokenhearted father, Conor, who said how much he will miss hearing his son call him dad and all the things they used to do together.
His mother Majella said his family will love him forever and that for the 13 years, eight months and seven days he was on this earth he brought "nothing but happiness and joy to our lives".
He said: "Tiárnan, affectionately known to us as TT, was many things - full of love, affection, kindness, adventure, curiosity, devilment, eager to please and stubborn in equal measure.
"Life was never dull with Tiarnán.
"We are blessed as parents to have called Tiarnán our son. We will now have to continue in this world without him but hold the memory of our beloved Tiarnán in our hearts.
"Conor and I brought TT into this world, and he was, without a doubt, our world."
She thanked the community, which gathered around their loved ones at this difficult time, for their support, as knowing her son was so loved has been a comfort to them all.
"Our lives will never be the same without him - we will keep his memory alive in our hearts and in our minds."
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