Community’s grief after death of Ger
MASSIVE TURNOUT AT FUNERAL OF OYLEGATE TEENAGER
IT was a bitter cold morning at St David’s Church in Oylegate on Friday as the community gathered to pay its respects to the late Ger Reck of Bogroad, Coolanick, Oylegate. The seventeen year-old was found dead at his home on Tuesday evening.
A huge crowd gathered in the church yard, largely made up of young faces as schoolmates from Enniscorthy Vocational College bid a final farewell to a popular sixth year student. A huge guard of honour stretched from the church gates, right up to the door, the black uniforms of the Vocational College students tragically apt for the occasion.
This was the second loss that this group of students had faced in a short period of time, last year having buried classmate Patrick Flynn from Davidstown. They consoled each other on the church grounds as they tried to come to terms with a huge burden to bear for people so young. Principal of the Vocational School, Dr Iain Wickham described it as an ‘extremely sad time’ for the family, the school and the local community.
‘The school community would like to express our condolences to the Reck family following this terrible tragedy,’ he said. ‘Ger was a much valued student in Enniscorthy Vocational College. He was a polite and courteous young man who was highly respected by staff and students and will be greatly missed.
‘I would like to thank Theresa Tierney and Pat Morrissey from the National Educational Pscychological Service (NEPS) for providing extra support to the school and all staff who have been extremely caring and professional following the sad loss of Ger.’
Enniscorthy Vocational College remained closed on Friday as a huge portion of the student body and staff attended Ger’s funeral in Oylegate. Speaking from the altar, Parish Priest Fr John Byrne said that the death of this popular young man had shocked the community.
‘News of Ger’s passing left a great sense of shock and disbelief in Oylegate, Enniscorthy and further afield,’ he said. ‘On an occasion like this, words fall short.’
‘A death like Ger’s is the most difficult of all to understand,’ he continued. ‘It really overwhelms with a mixture of emotions and a lot of unanswered questions. Some things can only be understood in the mind of God himself.
‘It’s not the way we’d want life to end for anyone. The burdens that people bear and the discouragements we feel are often hidden from view. Only God truly knows what is going on in any human’s heart. Ger brought great joy and fun into people’s lives. He was light-hearted and witty and he gave a lot in his short life. He showed interest in a career in carpentry, but sadly now that is not to be.’
Momentos that represented things of importance in Ger’s short life were placed next to his coffin inside the packed church. Family photos, a woodwork project, his trademark white socks and hair gel, toy tractors, a Playstation game, pictures drawn by his cousins too young to attend and a montage of pictures from his primary school friends - a brief snapshot of a life cut tragically short.
In the eulogy at the end of the service, the congregation heard of a funny and charming young man who had great plans in life.
‘He arrived five days early in October of 2000,’ the congregation heard. ‘I think that was the last time Ger was ever early! He was his mother’s gift from God. With his trademark smile and witty personality, they enjoyed a special bond. For his father, he was a friend, a son and a workmate. Ger would always work with him on tractors and out hedge-cutting. They were always together. To his brother Joe, he was a best friend. Ever since they were little playing with toys on the mat.’
Ger was described as a young man who worked hard for the things he wanted, be it a new phone, carpentry tools or his prize possession, his dirt-bike.
‘Ger was a real cool dude,’ a family member said. ‘The hairgel, the fringe, the swagger, the SuperDry jackets, the hoodies.. everything about him. He could say things that nobody else would get away with and he always had the last word. He was always there to support others and was hugely popular with teachers and students at Enniscorthy Vocational College.
‘We are left with more questions than answers,’ he concluded. ‘There is a hole now that can never be filled. But memories of his cheeky smile will never leave us and through that, he will always be with us.’
Following the emotional funeral service, Ger’s schoolmates once again lined the way as he was carried to his final resting place in Oylegate Cemetery. With heartbreaking finality, he was laid to rest, leaving his family with the devastating task of facing into Christmas with a gaping hole in their lives.
Ger is survived by his heartbroken parents Sean and Mary, his loving brother Joseph, his grannies, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends. May he rest in peace.