Heartbreak as quarry drown victim Jack is laid to rest
Dad’s heartbreaking tribute to son and his best friend
THE heartbroken father of Jack Kenneally paid an emotional tribute to his son’s friend Shay Moloney who lost his life trying to save him.
Sean Kenneally said he “will be forever grateful” to Shay for his brave attempt to stop Jack from drowning on Thursday afternoon.
The 15-year-olds, who have been described as “brothers in arms”, died in the tragedy at a disused quarry at Knockanean outside Ennis, Co Clare.
At Jack’s packed Funeral Mass at the town’s St Peter and Paul Cathedral yesterday, Mr Kenneally said: “Thank you Shay.” Standing at the altar looking skywards, he added: “Jack, it fills me with sorrow to know Shay lost his life trying to save you.”
Fr Jerry Carey said the friends “are now united forever” while chief celebrant Fr Tom Hogan told mourners “an unbelievable sadness has affected all of us – two young lads, so quickly their life was no more”.
Fr Hogan described Jack as the “baby” of the Kenneally family and said he had a special relationship with his three older sisters Danielle, Katie and Aisling who doted on him and spoiled him. Comforted by his three daughters on the altar, Mr Kenneally added he couldn’t forget the courage of the boys’ friend Cillian who jumped into the lake in a desperate attempt to save his friends.
He said: “There is now an empty seat at our table, an empty room in our house, but there will never be an empty space in our hearts.
“I wish it were a bad dream – clearly it is not. Who would have ever believed something like this would have happened to our family?
“The sense of shock and disbelief is palpable in the town in the last few days.”
Mr Kenneally described Jack as “an outstanding person and outstanding athlete and a good friend to many”. He
added: “Jack, if you are only a small bit as proud of me as I am of you, I will be a lucky man.”
He said the void left by his son’s passing can never be filled and paid tribute to the coaches at Ennis RFC, where the boys played for the under-15 side.
He added: “You had a huge impact on Jack’s life. He became a different man when he started playing rugby. He was a rugby star.”
After receiving a standing ovation, Mr Kenneally turned around and was embraced by his daughters.
Rugby coach Padraig Brennan said he was proud to have coached the pair.
Referring to Jack, he added: “What a young man... what a young man and he was going all the way.” Mr Brennan said Jack was one of a number of players he sent to the Munster underage academy.
He added: “Jack had strength, speed and valour – everything you wanted in a rugby player. He could play anywhere, that is the type of young fella he was.”
Fr Hogan said Jack “was born into a family where love is in the air”.
He added: “Love never dies – love is like a seal in our hearts that endures. Jack filled up your world and filled up your hearts – he was a most precious gift.”
The parish priest said Jack’s parents Sean and Tina “are going through unbelievable pain”.
He revealed he was gobsmacked by the outpouring of solidarity shown by Jack’s teenage friends in the church on Saturday night as they kissed his photo and touched his coffin as they filed past. Fr Hogan added: “Beloved Jack brought to his family such joy, fun, vitality and humour and annoyance and craic – the whole mixture. He will be forever young in your lives.” Poignantly, the majority of mourners in the large crowd were teenagers with many wearing the red and black of Ennis RFC, while students from Ennis Community College, which Jack attended, were at the funeral service in school uniform.
Jack and Shay were stars of the Ennis under-15 rugby team and players from the rival Young Munster under-15 side were also at the service.
There were heartbreaking scenes at the end of Mass as teenagers comforted each other, wiping away tears as Jack’s coffin, draped in the Ennis RFC colours, was carried to the hearse.
Jack was later laid to rest at Drumcliffe cemetery outside Ennis.
Many of the mourners will return to the same church this morning for the funeral of his friend Shay.
THE level of tragedy in the horrific deaths of two boys in Ennis is at the most extreme end of the scale.
Shay Moloney died trying to save his best pal Jack Kenneally and yesterday his father told of his huge sense of sorrow that the teen’s heroic efforts also cost him his life.
At Jack’s Funeral Mass, Sean Kenneally said he “will be forever grateful” to Shay for his attempts to rescue his son.
This double drowning is full of the horror of regret and the trauma of tragedy.
These boys were enjoying a swim at a popular, albeit dangerous, swimming spot in a quarry near Ennis.
The warm weather and care-free days of summer claimed those two young lives – plunging a town into devastating sorrow.
The sun can shine and send joy through communities but Ennis’ summer will be spent wishing that tragic day never happened.
The Knockanean Quarry is already playing host to other kids swimming at the spot that claimed to the two young lives.
Young people of Ennis must look at how the trauma of grief is enveloping these families and think twice before they dive in.
The supposed invincibility of youth will not protect you when the cold waters of Irish rivers, ponds and seas take your breath.
A brief swim is not worth the horror of families suffering for eternity as they bury their children.