TRAGIC GOODBYE TO ‘LEGEND’ JACK
Community mourns young man (20) who’d do favour for anybody
A BIG hearted young man who loved his cars and lived life to the full.
Those are just some of the words being used this week to describe tragic road crash victim Jack Matthews (pictured inset) who died following an accident just a matter of yards from his home at Carstown, Termonfeckin last Friday night.
Employed at Premier Periclase on the Boyne Road, Jack (20) was a beloved son of Johnny and Fiona Matthews and brother to Jane and Dylan.
He played for St Fechin’s as a youngster and was also a respected rider with the Louth Hunt.
His funeral takes place to his local Termonfeckin church on Friday at 10.30am
THE TRAGIC death of a young Termonfeckin man has left a community numb and a wider circle of friends mourning a cherished friend.
Last Friday night, shortly after 10.30pm, Jack Matthews (20) was just yards from his home when he died in a car crash close to a railway bridge, spanning the main Dublin to Belfast line.
A second person in the vehicle was removed to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The stories and words expressed in relation to Jack Matthews paints a picture of a fine young man, a GAA player, a great horseman too, but ultimately a friend to everyone, who’d do a good turn at the drop of a hat.
He was a loveable and funny character and worked as an electrician at Premier Periclase in Drogheda.
‘ The car scene and everyone that knew you has lost an absolute gentleman,’ one person wrote on social media at the weekend. ‘ You just don’t know when the big man needs one of his soldiers back. R.I.P. bud. You will be sorrowfully missed.’
Another friend wrote of an incident last year when a car broke down on New Year’s Day and he drove out to Baltray beach to help tow the vehicle.
He then dropped the passengers home, ‘out of pure goodness,’ they wrote. ‘Jack Matthews was an absolute ledgend... A lovely lad from the inside out.. Besides always being great craic and on top form he would go out of his way to help you when you were stuck..’
He had been planning to go out to Dolly Mitchels at the weekend to celebrate a joint 21st for two of his pals.
‘He will be sorely missed in this world and I feel so sorry for all of his friends in Drogheda and around it as well as all the Rossin boys who he was best friends with.
‘He was an absolute gentleman . Always a smile , always friendly. He has a massive circle of good friends from Clogherhead to Tullyallen. He always made sure he got his friends home safe and he was always last to get home for this reason. I can’t state how heartbroken I am to know I won’t see this friendly guy again. Young Jack ... you are the legend !
‘We will remember Jack as a brave, fun loving man’
Another concluded ‘ live life to the full like Jack would have and have no regrets at all...’
The Louth Hunt Pony Club also recalled their former member.
‘All our thoughts are with the Matthews family during a very difficult time.... Jack was a former member of the Louth pony club and a brave little jockey. Him and His family are an important part of our pony club and we are sending them all our love throughout this time. We will remember Jack as a brave fun loving young man.’
He lived at Carstown and was the beloved eldest son of John and Fiona and loving brother to Jane and Dylan.
His funeral is to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Termonfeckin this Friday at 10.30pm.