Shock at sudden passing of chef Emmet aged 38
BUSES full of people set off on the long journey from Ferns to Strabane, Co Tyrone last week with the devastating task of bidding a final farewell to a great local character. Emmet Coyle (38) of 21 An Glassan, Enniscorthy, a chef at The Courtyard, was making the tragic final journey back to his home county for burial following his untimely passing last Tuesday.
Emmet had been working in The Courtyard on the Monday and had gone out for a few drinks with friends afterwards before returning home. It was there that his heartbroken fiancée Andrea Codd found him unresponsive the following morning, having come in from working the night shift herself. The pair were due to be married in March of next year.
Emmet was also a loving father to Madison and has left a huge hole in the hearts of all who knew him. His family back in Strabane were able to take some heart from the big crowds who travelled from his adopted home-towns of Ferns and Enniscorthy to pay their respects and his heartbroken mother Margaret and sisters Arleen, Shelly, Martina and Olivia welcomed them with open arms.
A huge Liverpool fan, Emmet had taken great joy in the recent fortunes of the reds on the pitch and at his funeral, people were encouraged to wear Liverpool jerseys and as much red as possible.
Emmet had worked at The Courtyard for five years in the kitchen and he was said to have been a talented chef and an important part of the team there.
‘He’ll be very sadly missed,’ said General Manager Elaine Naughter. ‘He extremely good natured and great fun around the place. He was well-known to the lads at the counter and was a great friend as well as a workmate to all the lads here. It’s really tragic. It shows you just how much life can change over the course of a week.’
Following a fitting funeral service at St Mary’s Church, Melmount, Strabane, Emmet was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.