A teenager who died following a car crash in Co Down was a "young man whose light, laughter and love touched every space," mourners at his funeral heard.
Órán McConville, 18 and from Rathfriland, was a front seat passenger in a car which crashed near Hilltown in the early hours of Saturday.
He was laid to rest on Wednesday following Requiem Mass at St Patrick's Church, Drumgath - just six weeks after the sad death of his father Paddy.
Read more: 'A bright light in our community': GAA club leads tributes to Hilltown crash victim
A PSNI spokesperson said, shortly before 2am on Saturday morning, police received a report that a grey coloured Volkswagen Golf had been involved in a collision on the Kilkeel Road in Hilltown. Emergency services attended the scene but Mr McConville was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Mourners heard about the high esteem he was held in by those in the GAA, his schools, and the wider community.
Parish priest Fr Charles Byrne also spoke of the young man's love of music, following his semi-final appearance on Britain's Got Talent as a child in 2017 as part of the St Patrick's Primary School choir that made it to the semi-finals of the popular TV show.
His tragic death brought "devastating shock and grief" to his family, mourners heard.
Fr Byrne compared his death to a light going out.
"We have all experienced, at one time or another, an unexpected powercut, when the lights go out," he said. "The sudden death of a loved one is like that. One moment life is going on as normal and then, without the slightest warning or the chance to prepare ourselves, we are plunged into darkness. Our whole life, in a sense, is turned upside down.
"Oran's tragic death early on Saturday morning has brought devastating shock and grief to his family, to his friends, to our local community here and the wider community around it. An overwhelming sense of compassion is felt for you, his family."
Fr Byrne also reflected on the sad death of Oran's father just weeks ago, and the loss of his sister 16 years ago.
"As we all know, just six weeks ago we were here for Oran's father Paddy and 16 years ago you had the death of young Rachel," he said. "At this time we are all lost for words. Words are woefully inadequate to express the pain and the sorrow in our hearts that we have for you. May the Lord bring healing and strength into your lives and help you to cope with this heavy cross. We may wonder why this should happen. We don't have the answer. We mourn the loss of Oran's young life, taken from us so quickly."
The parish priest continued: "Oran's death emphasises to all of us the slenderness of the thread between life and death, and the suddenness with which it can be broken. We come here today in faith, faith that life now for Oran is now changed to a new state of being, eternal life with God, with his father Paddy and his sister Rachel, and all who have gone before him."
He continued: "Many memories and stories have been shared during this past few days about Oran, and the very large crowd here today at his funeral here, and the large crowd that passed through his home during the last few days, and the large gathering too over at the football field on Sunday afternoon for Oran's homecoming, speaks to us in a sense maybe more powerfully than any words of the very high esteem in which Oran was held.
"A young man whose light, laughter and love touched every space he entered into and touched everyone who was lucky enough to have known him.
"Oran was born on the 27th of June, 2006. He was the youngest not only in his own family but was the youngest cousin in the McConville and McDonnell families, the baby of the family. As the baby he got away with more mischief than most. With a smile like his, how could anyone be cross for long?"
He continued: "There's been very glowing tributes have been paid about Oran over this past few days, and all of these glowing tributes speak to us about the very special young man that you have raised."
Reflecting on his early school days, Fr Byrne said: "He was known for being funny, loyal, someone who made everyone feel welcome - no one was left out. In 2016 he was a member of the school choir that won the Choir of the Year. Then, the following year, 2017 the choir entered Britain's Got Talent and, for that, the choir was over in Manchester for the auditions and then in London for the programme itself. This was a very enjoyable time for Oran and for his friends in the school. He was a natural performer and, years later, he was able to look back on those times with fun and laughter. His love of music continued to grow. He learned to play the guitar and loved going to concerts."
He continued: "In his last year at St Mark's, he travelled with the school to Kenya and this was a very enjoyable experience for him helping those who are less fortunate. I'm told that during that trip Oran caused a bit of Oran-style chaos one night by throwing a chicken into a tent. I'm sure that caused a lot of craic that night. Oran, in life, was a real adventurer. If there was reason to celebrate you could count on Oran to be there, the first one on the dancefloor and the last one to leave."
After speaking of his sporting exploits and the glowing tributes from his football club, Fr Byrne also spoke of how Oran had coached young children.
"He had a real gift with children, he was great with children, so patient and so playful, always making them laugh," he said. "Oran's mother Amanda and his brother Shea have very many special memories. In his short life, he gave a lot of love and he received a lot of love."
The priest also spoke of the "unbreakable" bond between Oran and his brother Shea, whom the deceased young man viewed as his "hero".
He added: "Underneath all the laughter and the mischief, Oran had a softer side too. He loved gazing at the moon and the stars. Through it all, he carried the memories of his deceased sister Rachel and his recently deceased father Paddy deep in his heart. He lived in a way that made them proud every single day with joy, kindness, courage and love. Oran was a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, a teammate, a colleague and a friend to many. He meant so much to so many. His time here was heartbreakingly too short but the impact he made was immeasurable."
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