Tributes paid as Harry (8) laid to rest in Duleek

‘May he entertain heaven as he did us’

The funeral of little Harry O’Connor (8) who died tragically following a boating accident in Boston took place in Duleek last Thursday.

The 8-year-old was a passenger on a 23-foot Four Winns Bowrider when the vessel capsized near the Hog Island Channel, Massachusetts on Wednesday, July 26th.

Harry had been travelling with a group of people, including his parents, on the boat when it capsized throwing all 12 passengers on board into the water.

He became trapped under the boat but was rescued from the water by divers approximately 24 minutes later and taken by helicopter to Boston Children’s Hospital.

However, he tragically lost his fight for life three days later.

Harry, his parents Laura Lenehan and Paudie O’Connor and siblings Ellen, Charlie and Joe had been living in Sudbury, Boston after moving to America from Poulnaganogue, Clonmel several years ago.

Harry’s funeral and burial took place in St Cianan’s Church, Duleek as his Mum Laura is originally from the local village.

His family paid tribute to their beloved son and brother as details of his funeral in Duleek were released last week, saying: ‘May he entertain heaven as he did us.’

At his funeral, his father Paudie paid a poignant tribute to his ‘very special’ son as ‘ The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ was played in the church.

Mourners who gathered to support Harry’s devastated family got to their feet to clap along to the youngsters favourite song, taken from the hit film, The Lion King.

Paudie paid tribute to their very special boy Harry who brought so much life to the family’s home.

Harry was a third grade student at Nixon Elementary School.

Last Sunday, Anne Wilson, a school’s superintendent, expressed condolences in a district wide e-mail.

‘Nothing compares to the grief and sadness of losing a child. While the family is the most impacted, many others share in the profound sadness of this tragic event,’ she said.

Harry is survived by his parents Paudie O’Connor, Laura Lenehan, siblings Ellen, Charlie and Joe, grandparents Pat and Marie, Margaret and the late Johnny, aunts, uncles, his cousins and a large circle of friends and neighbours.