Philip Leahy is laid to rest after US tragedy
MOURNERS PACK VILLAGE FOR FUNERAL OF MAN WHO DIED FOLLOWING ACCIDENT IN THE US
THE grieving family of Ballyhooly student Philip Leahy, who died while on a J1 visa to the United States, has paid tribute to their local community for the tremendous support that they have given them since the tragedy earlier this month.
Addressing the congregation at Philip’s funeral mass on Monday, his older brother William paid tribute to all who had helped their grieving family in trying to come to terms with the tragic death.
“... you have gone above and beyond with your level of support” said William. “There are no words to say how much we appreciate what you have done ...”
And in a poignant eulogy, Patrick Leahy recalled how just three short years earlier, Philip had stood at the same spot and delivered a eulogy to their late father, Philly. Little did he think he would be standing in the same spot delivering a eulogy for his younger brother so soon afterwards,
Patrick also recalled that it was less than 12 months since Philip had carried the Cork County Junior B Championship Cup down the main street in Ballyhooly to a tumultuous welcome home and now his teammates were shouldering his coffin along the same route.
PARISH priest Fr Patrick Scanlan told mourners at the funeral mass of Philip Leahy (22) from Castlebla, Ballyhooly in North Cork that the entire community shared the shock and grief experienced by his mother, Ann and brothers, WIlliam and Patrick and aunt, Mary at their tragic loss.
Philip, a student at Cork Institute of Technology, who was in the United States for the summer on a J1 visa, got into difficulties while swimming at Ocean City beach resort in Maryland on August 2 and passed away some four days later at the Maryland General Hospital.
Fr Scanlan recalled how the Leahy family’s world was turned upside down as they learned of the tragedy and prepared to travel to the US to be at the bedside of their son and brother who was due to graduate in October with an Honours Degree in Business at CIT.
“We can only imagine what that was like for you - Ann, William and Patrick and Aunt Mary. And so you have experienced a plethora of feelings, some of which you may have never felt before, or never felt so intensely: profound shock, numbness, utter disbelief, anger, emptiness and loss.
“The extended family, relatives and friends here at home, and our local community, shared your pain, and the utter helplessness of wanting to support you, and yet separated by the Atlantic ocean. We felt numb and at a loss as to why this should happen to Philip and to such a good family.”
The Leahy family are well known locally and Philip’s late father, Philly was preparing to run for Fine Gael in the 2015 local elections when he took ill and died suddenly. Philip himself was captain of the Ballyhooly football team that won the Cork County Junior B football championship in 2016.
Fr Scanlan recalled how the news of the tragedy in Maryland was greeted with an outpouring of compassion and empathy in Ballyhooly and surrounding areas as people rallied around to attend prayer vigils to show their support for the family as they struggled to cope with the tragedy.
“These were beautiful, spontaneous gestures that speak volumes for both the kind of community we have here in Ballyhooly, and the esteem in which you, Ann and your family are held,” Fr Scanlan told mourners in a packed Church of the Nativity of Our Lady in Ballyhooly.
“And all of us too as a community grieve with you and want to stand beside you, today and for as long as it takes, as you grieve the loss of a son, a brother, a nephew, a cousin, a friend,” he said, noting how everyone touched by Philip’s life would have their own special memories of him.
“You recall and cherish so many memories of Philip, since he was a baby, to the day close to a year ago when he captained the Ballyhooly Junior Football team to its first ever County Final victory. And of course you have so many other beautiful personal memories,” said Fr Scanlan.
“All of us recall a young man full of enthusiasm, who loved life and loved people, was outgoing, friendly and witty, and who was equally comfortable in the company of old people, children, or those of his own age group.
“And you, his family - you grieve not only for what you have lost, but also for all that could have been – the hopes and the dreams, for his future in sport, in the career he might have chosen, the husband and father he might have become.”
Among the offertory gifts were Philip’s Ballyhooly jersey and a photograph of him and his team mates after winning the Cork County Junior B championship symbolising his love of sport, his Diploma in Recreation and Leisure from CIT and a photograph taken with friends while in the US.