‘A great friend, taken too soon’
NICCOLAI Schuster, known as Nick among friends, is a grandnephew of legendary playwright John B Keane and one of two St Mary’s College students to lose their lives in the tragedy.
From Terenure in south Dublin, he finished in secondlevel education in 2012. After that he progressed to UCD where he was doing an Arts degree, taking classes in history and politics.
He was described yesterday as ‘sports mad’ and played rugby with St Mary’s, as well as following Leinster rugby and the fortunes of German football giants Bayern Munich.
His Facebook page was littered with photos of him meeting the club’s stars, including World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger and he regularly travelled over for the team’s biggest games.
Indeed the club’s ardent supporter base paid a special tribute to their fan in Ireland yesterday.
His profile has also become a shrine to scores of tributes from friends and well-wishers here and abroad who expressed their shock and devastation at the tragic passing.
“You were always up for the craic. A true free spirit if ever there was one,” said one friend.
“You had your Dad’s humour and your Mum’s kind heart. Wherever you are I hope you’re causing as much trouble as you always did. I will miss you so much.”
Another said: “God has taken an amazing person way too early but you know what they say the most amazing people are the ones he wants. It’s an absolute heartbreak that everything happened as it did but I hope you sleep and rest well up in heaven and look down on all your family and friends.”
He was also a frequent visitor to his famous Kerry ancestors where the Keane family run a machinery business.
St Mary’s College and the rugby club paid tribute to Niccolai and sent their condolences to his family, as did UCD President Andrew Deeks.
“We cannot comprehend the desperate shock and grief they are feeling and we are heartbroken at their suffering and loss,” he wrote.