‘The support shown after Anthony’s death has been incredible’
ALMOST €65,000 raised and a total still rising at time of print. The O’Sullivan family of Kilcummin is in deep mourning after the death of eldest son Anthony in Australia last week but the generous support of friends and family has provided some solace in difficult times.
Aged 33, Anthony O’Sullivan died suddenly in Australia on Sunday, November 5. The eldest of seven boys, the family await the results of a post mortem.
In the days after Anthony’s death, friends launched a Go Fund Me page to cover repatriation and burial costs. The fund quickly surpassed its original target and is currently more than double. For Anthony’s father, Paddy, a former principal of Anabla NS, the support has quite simply been “overwhelming”.
“It’s just incredible altogether. I was very apprehensive at first but Anthony’s friends insisted it was what they wanted to do, particularly his good friend and classmate Daniel O’Leary. The money will go directly to funeral costs and everything raised above the target is going to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Foundation.
“Kevin’s father Colin contacted the family to say they are simply dumbfounded by the amount of money that has been raised and that he is extremely grateful,” Paddy stated.
Anthony’s brothers Killian (29) and Patrick (30) who live in Darwin were at Anthony’s hospital bedside when he died. They Skyped home so Paddy and other family members could say goodbye. “We were able to tune in and be there with him on video. Even though it was very traumatic and sad, it was great to have such technology.”
A DJ who was known across Australia, Anthony previously played The Grand in Killarney and at various Kerry weddings. He had build up a wide network of friends since moving to Australia in February 2010.
“I just have no words to describe the support,” said Paddy. “Anthony’s friends in Australia have just been incredibly helpful to my sons.”
“During the week Anthony’s friends organised a walk from Coogee to Bondi and afterwards helium balloons were released. There was a flock of birds that flew over afterwards, twice, and that was so fitting for Anthony as he loved birds, in fact all animals,” Paddy recalled.
“He used to breed budgies and pigeons at home, from the age of just 14.”
“The Coogee Bay Hotel was Anthony’s haunt and there were about 300 of his friends who gathered there to remember him last week. Some of them had been down already from Perth and Brisbane and they flew back down again, it was very touching,” he added.
Anthony had recently cut back his DJing to weekends to be able to train in electrical work and Paddy had planned to travel to Australia in February to visit his sons. It was one of his last conversations with Anthony.
Anthony will be buried with his mother Sheila who lost her fight against cancer in 2004.