Main pic: The remains of Kían Dawson-Kirk being carried from St Brigid’s Church to his final resting place. Pic: North West NewsPix.
A football-mad Derry teenager who was tragically killed in a crash in Donegal at the weekend had the emblem of his beloved club draped over his coffin at his funeral today.
Kían Dawson-Kirk (16), described as a “infectious and made everyone he met laugh”, died last Saturday night at the scene at Cross, Quigley’s Point when the vehicle he was travelling in hit a wall.
His cousin, Eoghán Dawson (20) passed away on Tuesday afternoon from his injuries at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Kían was a front seat passenger while Eoghán was driving the car.
Leaving the 16-year-old’s home in the Carnhill area of the city this morning, Kían’s white coffin had an emblem of club Don Bosco’s on it as it was carried to St Brigid’s Church for his Requiem Mass.
Parish priest, Fr Sean O’Donnell, described Kían as someone who “genuinely cared for everyone he met, from every and any walk of life”. He also said he was an individual that “brought the craic and the fun to his friend group” and that he perfectly encapsulated “the ultimate likeable rogue”.
Fr O’Donnell told mourners that Kían was beloved by his parents, grandparents, his sister, and his large group of friends.
Mourners heard that he was about to embark on a new journey as he had found a profession he loved in barbering, one he was incredibly talented in and passionate about.
The symbols of Kían brought forward before the start of the mass included his photograph, a road sign for White Hart Lane, a pennant from Don Bosco’s FC, and a Derry City FC top, signed by all the players, demonstrating his passionate love of football.
Fr O’Donnell imparted a number of stories about the 16-year-old that perfectly encapsulated his funny character, which mourners greeted with laughter as they recollected upon the memories.
“If you dared him to do something, he was guaranteed to do it,” he said.
“As a dare, he reenacted the scene from Elf and managed to snap the St Columb’s College Christmas Tree in half.
“I’m told he once walked from his granny and grandad Dawson’s house to his own house with a pair of shorts on his head because his granddad Micky dared him to do it for a fiver.
“He used to do wee skits in the house and perform wee shows and dress up as superheroes when younger, and they were all hilarious.
“He was infectious and made everyone he met laugh.”
Fr O’Donnell spoke about the love he had for every member of his family and the pride he held for each of his friends.
The parish priest, on behalf of the family, thanked everyone that had been in attendance for the funeral, supported them over the past few days since the tragic incident, and thanked the various representatives from the football clubs that meant the world to Kían and the schools around Derry, particularly St Patrick’s and St. Columb’s College, where he attended.
Kían was laid to rest at St Mary’s Cemetery, Rushall Road, Ardmore, following the Requiem Mass.
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