Mayo community grieving tragic death of young man in New Zealand

A grief-stricken community in Mayo is preparing to welcome home tomorrow the remains of a 27-year-old local man who drowned earlier this month in Waikato River, New Zealand.

In warm, southern hemisphere, summer weather, Peadar Togher, a multimedia designer, from Tirrane, Clogher, Belmullet, a passionate swimmer and enthusiast of other adventure activities, lost his life while bathing at Hamilton City’s Pukete Bridge on December 14.

He was holidaying in NZ, where John, one of his three brothers is living, and he was accompanied by friends at the time of the tragedy.

It was several days before Peadar’s body was recovered from the Waikiato River, a national blackspot for drowning, according to Water Safety NZ, New Zealand’s leading water safety organisation.

His death is described in his funeral notice posted today as “a tragic accident."

News of the popular multimedia designer’s death has been greeted with shock, sadness and disbelief in his native Belmullet and surrounding area.

In a message of condolence, Kilmore Drama Group (Erris) described Peadar, one of its former actors, as “a gifted young man taken far too early in life."

In online posts Peadar, a graduate of University of Limerick Institute of Technology, is described as “a bright spark, a truly lovely guy who always had a smile on his face.”

Another wrote: “Peadar was super-kind, hilarious and great fun to be around. His positive energy was infectious. I am so thankful to have known him.”

In his earlier years Peadar acted as a ‘cinnire’ (guide) in Coláiste Uisce, a Gaeltacht college for adventure sports, on the Erris peninsula.

“He brought a warm energy and plenty of laughter to every room he was in," wrote one of his former colleague associates.

An idonate, crowd-funding, campaign to repatriate Peadar’s remains and pay for his funeral and other family expenses, has raised more than €40,000, ten times the original target of €4,000.

Patrick’s devastated parents, Patrick and Margaret, brothers, John, Michael and Padraig, are preparing for his sad homecoming, via Dublin, today (Sunday).

Remains will repose at McDonnell’s Funeral Home, Belmullet, on Monday evening from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. before being waked overnight at the Togher family home.

Funeral will arrive at St. Brendan’s Church, Tirrane, on Wednesday afternoon for Funeral Mass at 1 p.m. followed by burial in Emlybeg Cemetery.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.