Family of late Cameron Reilly thank everyone for ‘incredible support’ they have received
CAMERON REILLY WOULD HAVE CELEBRATED HIS 19TH BIRTHDAY ON DECEMBER 18TH. A SPECIAL MASS TAKES PLACE FOR HIM ON SATURDAY IN DUNLEER
‘Something in you, lit up heaven in me,
‘ The feeling won’t let me sleep,
‘Cause I’m lost in the way you move, the way you feel...’
WORDS, maybe tragic, maybe faithful, maybe a light from above.
They form part of the Calvin Harris/ Dua Lipa hit ‘ One Kiss’ and when dark nights descend and Cameron Reilly’s loved ones need a bit of comfort, they think of those lyrics, loved by a much missed and still adored son, grandson, nephew, friend.
Next Saturday night in Dunleer’s St Brigid’s Church where a valley of tears descended just a few short months ago, those that adored him will gather at 7.30pm for his birthday remembrance mass. He would have been 19 on December 18th.
And around the quaint, ancient cemetery in Mullary, flowers will blossom again, spread over his final resting place, a much worn pathway for the family since his tragic death in Dunleer last May.
The past few months have been a haze for the family, his parents, Tracy and Patrick, his adoring grandparents, as his mum remarks, ‘I live day to day, that’s it.’
But for a man who spent just over 18 years on this earth, his legacy is one of everlasting love.
As the family prepare for his special mass, they think of happy times, of funny moments, his smile and his ways.
He was the ‘golden child’ - the apple of their eye, simply, they adored the ground upon which he walked.
He loved his little cousins and would spend hours helping Killian get to the next level on his computer games. Then there was his love of the ‘Golden Bowl’ in Hardman’s Gardens, the ‘4 in 1’ his favoured Chinese, and being a regular, Vicky and Leanne would know who was calling, before they even heard a name.
His Dunleer based grandparents, Rita and Joe, were, and always will be, wrapped around that little finger of his. When Cameron called, they answered. His loss has been cruel for them, but his memory burns like a bright flame in their broken hearts.
Cameron loved his style and could probably have opened his very own JD Sports shop. He loved fashion and looking well, it was all part of him.
His music was his life too, his knowledge of performers and genres even staggered his loving aunt Fiona, who would constantly have the car radio switching from station to station until ‘ the song’ came that he wanted to hear. What she’d give to have those days back again.
Cameron Reilly made such an impression on so many people, people from right across the world.
In the days and weeks after his death, the letters began to arrive in Dunleer and Drogheda - from around the globe - people just taken with the story of this much loved young man.
They were all opened and read and cherished. When a tidal wave comes behind you, you can’t help but rise with it.
The family just wonder where to begin in thanking people who have stood with them, who gave them a shoulder to rest a weary head on, who lifted them from the ground with arms of love and compassion.
Neighbours, friends, the local business community in Drogheda, Dunleer and elsewhere, who just rallied around with the biggest hearts imaginable.
Fr Michael Murtagh, a beacon of hope in Dunleer if ever the town needed one, a rock, a leader. The Garda Siochana, who provided so much assistance, the Louth Fire and Rescue crews, the defence force members who gave their time and energy, a family are forever grateful.
The hospital and mortuary staff, undertaker Dessie Connor, the friends and staff at DkIT, whom Cameron adored. The admins on the Cameron Facebook page, the organisers of the candlelit vigil in the days after Cameron’s death, Amie Dyer and David Leddy, the crew from Ken’s Cabs in Dunleer who also told of the many stories about Cameron when he’d be out with friends and made sure that each of them returned home.
‘ There are so many others, so many, I just can’t name them all, but just, please, take this from my heart, thank you to each and every person who has supported us in these past few months. It has meant so much,’ Tracy states. Even to this day, people still ring, still call, still remember.
Just a few weeks ago, family and friends travelled to the Phoenix Park for the annual Remembrance Walk and Tracy is grateful to everyone for their part in that too.
She knows the next few weeks won’t be easy as Christmas calls and special memories over the past 18 years come flooding back.
But as her soft hand sweeps across Cameron’s photograph, she’ll know he’s there, always by mum’s side.....