The sudden and tragic death of the Chada brothers was beyond comprehension and almost impossible to put into words, mourners at their funeral were told today.
But in their few short years, Eoghan (10) and Ruairí (5) achieved so much, lived with energy and intensity and brought joy and happiness to their parents and community, Parish Priest Fr Declan Foley officiating at St Lazerian's Church in Ballinkillen Co Carlow said.
The boys were found dead in the boot of their father’s car near Westport, Co Mayo on Monday.
Children from the school and local sports clubs lined the street as the boys white coffins were brought from two flower-covered hearses into the 18th century church. Hundreds of mourners filled the small building and thronged outside to pay their respects to the boys and their family.
Bishop elect Fr Denis Nulty and Monsignor Brendan Byrne concelebrated the Mass along with the parish priest and priests from other parishes.
Symbols brought to the altar at the beginning of the Mass by the boys’ friends and cousins included a hurley and ball, a toy tractor, a cookbook and photograph of the boys.
Prayers of the faithful were read by four of the boys’ primary school teachers and hymns were sung by the parish choir and school, and included This Little Light of Mine.
Fr Foley said the brothers lived everyday with joy and energy and though they had their own rooms, they had a close bond and always slept together in the same bed.
They were deeply embedded in the local GAA and soccer clubs and were talented players, he said.
Their death stunned the whole community, he told mourners, and the parents of their classmates were concerned about how they were going to tell their own children the sad news. The National Educational Psychological Service worked with them, he said.
Eoghan was an “apprentice magician” and enjoyed practising his skills on Ruairi. He also wanted to become a chef and enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen. but kept his options open after he recently bought a calf with his communion money.
Ruairí wanted to be a tractor driver when he grew up.
“Little Ruairi loved nothing more than helping Poppy, as granddad Billy is called, around the farm,” he continued. “He was going to be a tractor driver when he grew up.
“He was also looking forward to making his First Holy Communion and making some money.
“If Eoghan could buy a calf, he was going to buy a combine harvester,” he added.
A post-communion reflection partly in Hindi was read by Indian priest Fr George Augustine. The boys’ cousins, Ann and Áine Shepard read a reflection from a relative in Australia on behalf of her children.
The boys’ mother, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were present, including their paternal aunt Suman Chada and her partner, and his paternal uncle Keshev Chada and wife and children from Northern Ireland.
The boys were buried side by side in the cemetery next to the church only 500 metres from their home.
