A young Co Donegal musician killed in a tragic road crash just days before Christmas has been remembered as a “brilliant beam of sunshine.”
Paul Mooney, 30, died following a two car collision on the main Letterkenny to Lifford Road on Monday evening last.
His funeral mass was attended by hundreds of people at St Mary’s Church in Ramelton today.
The mass heard how Paul lived for music and had supported Irish band Kodaline and was due to play the famous Glastonbury Festival in England next year with his band Boy M5.
Among the mourners at Paul’s mass were his beloved mum and dad, Gwen and Morgan, as well as his sisters Maeve and Julianne.
A special mention was given to his partner Nicolle who watched the mass online from Letterkenny University Hospital having been injured in the crash in which Paul died.
Parish priest of Ramelton Fr Michael Carney said most have struggled to describe how they have felt since Paul’s sudden death.
“Most of us have struggled to find words to express our feelings at Paul’s passing. The death of Paul Mooney has been met with enormous sadness and grief by his family, friends and the wider community.
“Paul was held in genuine regard and affection. People have been moved to express sympathy to let you know that ‘here was a unique individual who in his short life made an indelible mark on just about everyone that he met.
“So words like ‘true friend, generous, compassionate, gentle have been used to describe Paul. And they sum up for many people how he affected them and also the yawning gap he leaves through his passing.
“However, his dad Morgan used the most descriptive words of all, courtesy of a mum writing on the condolence website. She described Paul as “a brilliant beam of sunshine.”
“Those words take on an intensity at this time of the year on the shortest and darkest of days when we’re starved of sunshine and sunlight. The sun warms and brightens everything it shines on, even in the depths of winter.
“For Morgan, Gwen, Julianne, Nicolle and the wider family, Paul was a brilliant beam of sunshine and it sums up Paul and the wonder of a son, a brother, a grandson and a partner. Those words bring with meaning and depth and they describe the grief but life-giving light of a son, brother, grandson and friend.
“Paul’a life, his mum and dad remarked, was full of qualities which brought sunshine to their lives. An author writes about someone having sunshine in their pockets. Paul had that in abundance.
“His time among us was brief by our accepted standards, just thirty years. Our reaction is to regret such a short life and all that was meant to be. However, the worth of somebody’s life is not just about the future or the future which they have been denied. The point of any life is that it has been lived to the full no matter how long and that it has been, if circumstance allows, one of accomplishment….
“The most obvious is that each life brightens like sunshine the worlds of our family, friends and communities. In other words, we make a difference. We touch the lives of so many in ways that would probably amaze us if we realise the extent of that influence. Every life is of value as it stands, as it affects people now.
“The most telling thing said of Paul is not what he might have achieved or given but in fact, who he was and what he did.”
Before his funeral mass commenced, symbols of Paul’s life were brought to the altar.
They included a pizza box as the congregation was told that he just loved pizza and a top hat because “everyone knew how Paul was a party animal.”
Other symbols included a t-shirt and guitar as well as framed pictures of Paul and Nicolle and another taken recently with his entire family.
The music was provided by Paul’s friends and included The Beatles’ class ‘Let It Be’.
The readings and prayers of the faithful were given by family and friends including Paul’s Godfather Paul McDaid.
Throughout the mass, Paul’s heartbroken family comforted each other, their beloved son and brother resting beside them in a wicker coffin.
Father Carney thanked a number of people including the undertakers and hospital staff at Letterkenny University Hospital who organised for Nicolle to “see her beloved Paul laid out” one last time.
After communion, Paul’s heartbroken mum Gwen read a reflection and she was accompanied on guitar by Paul’s dad Morgan, himself an accomplished musician.
Gwen said “I got this wee poem many years ago when Paul was a baby. It struck a chord then. I didn’t think I’d ever be saying it in these circumstances so if I make it through it, I make it through it and if I don’t, I won’t.”
Touching her heart as she read the emotional words of the poem ‘A Child of Mine’ by Edgar Guest, Gwen received a huge round of applause as she paid tribute to her only son.
Dad Morgan even sported a shirt emblazoned with musical instruments in tribute and memory of the amazing bond they shared.
Members of Paul’s family led his wicker basket coffin out of the church for burial in the adjoining cemetery.
