Huge turnout at funeral of Louisburgh tragedy victim
LOVE of family was a deciding factor in a decision by Martin Needham to return from New Zealand to his native Killadoon, near Louisburgh, a priest explained at his funeral Mass today.
The 27-year-old and his lifelong friend, Declan Davitt (26) drowned in the early hours of Christmas Day when a 4x4 jeep in which they were travelling was swept downstream after entering the swollen Carrowniskey River.
The Church of the Holy Family, Killeen, was full to capacity for today's Mass with excess mourners being accommodated in the adjacent community centre.
Declan Davitt's funeral will take place tomorrow (Friday).
Fr. Mattie Long, the main celebrant of today's Mass, said that the local community, who had been looking forward to a quiet Christmas Day in the company of family, had instead 'walked in darkness'.
He continued: "Martin's death at such a young age leaves us with a sense of an unfinished life, many things undone, many things maybe unsaid. We struggle to understand why. We are left with nothing but raw human emotions, a numbing sadness, shock and disbelief, anger, helplesssness and tears."
Fr. Long said that even though far from home in New Zealand Martin never forgot home and, although he was established successfully, he decided to return to his native place as he felt he was missing out too much by not being present for so many family occasions.
Fr. Long went on to speak of Martin as a tremendously obliging person who loved above all to operate machinery, "the bigger, the better."
In his concluding remarks, Fr. Long praised local residents in Carrowniskey and Roonith, and the emergency services, for "doing everything humanly possible to help throughout a long and difficult Christmas Day."
As the funeral cortege arrived at the church from the Needham family home where it had been waked overnight, the hearse was preceded by a convoy of tractors, including Martin's own beloved New Holland 8560.
Symbols representing aspects of Martin's life, including a toy tractor and a mini-digger, illustrating his great passion and love for all types of machinery were brought to the altar by his nephews and nieces.
The chief mourners at the funeral were Martin Needham's parents, Pat Joe and Breege, sisters, Olivia, Patricia, Caitriona and Elaine and their families.
Also in attendance was Tom McGrail (19) who survived the tragedy. He scrambled from the jeep and raised the alarm at a nearby house.
Following the Mass, Martin's remains were carried the short distance in biting winds to the nearby cemetery overlooking Clare Island and the Atlantic.