Tragic teen’s rap is read for mourners

Irish rowers’ historic ocean crossing

Without the support we’ve had there’s no way we’d have made it PATRICK O’CONNOR

Number of days it took for the four friends to cross the Atlantic

A TEENAGER’S rap lyrics were read out at his funeral Mass yesterday as hundreds of mourners paid him a final tribute.

Tragic Sean Hughes, from Finglas, North Dublin, developed a bad cough before dying in the city’s Temple Street Hospital last Friday.

Students from his Colaiste Eoin school formed a guard of honour as his coffin was carried inside St Canice’s Church.

And the congregation listened to lyrics written by the avid rapper, who was nicknamed Lil Red.

Fr Richard Hyland said: “For all who knew and loved Sean we know how much rap meant to him.

“In listening to his songs the real personality of Sean shines through.” Pals at the finish line in Antigua FOUR friends have become the fastest quartet from the Republic to row across the Atlantic Ocean.

There was a typically patriotic welcome for team Relentless as they arrived in English Harbour in Antigua – 32 days, 22 hours and four minutes after they pulled out of La Gomera in the Canary Islands.

And with family and friends having flown over to welcome the foursome, there were emotional scenes at the finish line as they waved Irish flags and sang Ireland’s Call.

Patrick O’connor, 27, Eoin O’farrell, 26, Sean Underwood, 25, all from Cork, battled huge 40ft waves, sores, and storms alongside 28-year-old Dubliner Tommy Browne on the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

They were the sixth team of more than 20 teams to cross the finish line in what is dubbed the world’s toughest rowing race – one place behind Irish rivals Home To Portrush.

Sean said: “It feels a bit surreal at the moment, it’s been so long coming. To actually arrive now on solid ground – it doesn’t feel so solid, we’re kind of swaying around the place – it feels great to be here, absolutely amazing.”

The group even had to contend with hallucinations brought on by sleep deprivation.

Patrick said: “We’ve had a lot of dark days out there.

“My family came up with a book with messages from my friends and family on each day.

“It was one of those things I’d leave until it was the roughest point in the day and then I’d read it.

“When somebody mentions they’re inspired by you and they know you’ll get through to the end, you start doing it for them and you don’t want to let them down.

“You get quite emotional about it. You come out of your cabin, you nearly have tears, and you talk to the boys and get on the oars and give it 110%.

“Without the support we’ve had from people here and back home, there’s no way we would have made it, so thank you.”

The quartet are raising funds for Cork University Hospital.

■ For more information, visit taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com.

ON CREW’S ATLANTIC CROSSING