The funeral of tragic rally star Craig Breen heard how he just wanted to make people proud.
There were heartbreaking scenes at his funeral in Waterford today.
Craig, just 33, tragically died on Thursday last during a pre-test rally event in Croatia.
His heartbroken sister Kellie said it was “mission accomplished” in his goal to “make people proud”
His devastated parents Jackie and Ray, who called him their “treasured son”, led mourners into the packed Sacred Heart Church, Ferrybank, for his funeral Mass.
Hundreds of other mourners including many friends and rally fans from Donegal waited outside the church.
His coffin was carried in, draped in the Tricolour, to the sound of pop band Coldplay’s hit song Yellow, while Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars played later.
A poignant picture of Craig as a boy in a go-cart was placed on top of his coffin.
Parish priest Fr Kieran O’Shea said: “Teabags were the fuel that Craig and cars ran on” and later added: “Craig lived his dream.”
He said: “We gather with immense sadness and grief. How do you find the words for all of this? It’s nearly impossible.
“It is an unbelievably sad day. In people’s imaginations, no-one could ever have imagined that this could be real.”
Among the gits and symbols from his life brought to the altar were his helmet, a trophy, Barry’s Tea teabags, and his rally gloves.
Craig’s sister Kellie paid tribute at the start of the Mass to her and said: “I want to say a few words about my little brother, the guy behind the helmet.
“Craig left behind a truckload of fond memories and hilarious stories.
“Whenever you were lucky enough to catch him, you were literally given a night of laughs, mockery, and slagging over copious cups of tea.
“He was a rogue for always leaving a little job after him. And this one is by far the hardest.
“Craig was a cute child. Placid, easy-going, and all he wanted day-in, day-out, was to play with something on wheels.
“It seemed the world wanted him to do what he loved best.”
She added: “He was always a bit different and unpredictable, you never got a boring answer from our Craig.
“He was happiest whenever he was tearing around in whatever gave him the fastest speed.
“He spent years peddling a go-cart around our house and then up and down the driveway and eventually up and down the road with my poor dad looking out for cars.”
Kellie continued: “He liked to push things to the limits, seeing what he could make them do and what he could get out of them.
“He was only five minutes out in his new quad when our mother got a call to say, ‘Jackie, you better come back down; the quad is on its roof’.
“He was ridiculously generous and poured a lot of what he got back into the sport.
“Our family really did share Craig with the world, but on the occasions when he did make it home, he loved nothing more than a Domino’s and Gogglebox.
“His career guidance teacher said the same thing every year, ‘I don’t know what planet he lives on, but he thinks he’s going to drive cars for a living. You’ll have to have another word’.
“The past few days have given us an insight into a whole other world that Craig discovered when he finally got a place where he belonged with his motorsport family.
“It was then that he felt at home, no matter where he was.
“Craig would do anything to avoid making people upset. He would shy away from anything that would make anyone feel bad.
“It seems so cruel now whenever his friends and family are living through such hurt. He would hate to see tears shed on his behalf.
“Craig was lucky enough to have a million stories. He will live on through his legacy, so please keep his spirit alive for all of us.
“His school year send-off quote was that he wanted to make people proud. Craig, I can safely say, mission accomplished.”
