Heartbreaking grief as family, friends and wider community in Keash say goodbye to Rickie Devine Junior who will be “forever 19”
Shortly before 19-year-old Rickie Devine Junior's funeral mass concluded in St Kevin's Church on Monday afternoon his heartbroken father, Rickie Senior, spoke to mourners.
As he held back tears, his words were searingly honest and full of love for his son.
It was one of many emotion-laden moments during a funeral mass where no one was left in any doubt just how special Rickie Junior was.
Earlier chief celebrant Fr Gabriel Murphy told mourners at St Kevin's Church, Keash, how Rickie would now be “forever 19”.
Memories of Rickie's love for tractors, for family for friends were recalled - the gifts brought to the Altar reflecting his passions and interests were carefully chosen to reflect Rickie Jnr's many loves, among them a model John Deere 6910 tractor, one of Rickie's favourites; two diggers were brought forward to remember his love of machinery; two teddies Rickie bought for his niece and nephew when he worked in Scotland were also brought to the Altar while photos of Rickie as a very young boy were brought forward; the bread and wine were brought forward by his Godparents.
Gathering himself, battling his emotions, after communion Rickie's father, Rickie Senior, stood in front of the large congregation and spoke about his love for his son, he spoke about how Rickie was “into tractors and diggers” from when he was three years old.
He spoke directly to Rickie's nearby coffin and described what Rickie Junior was like: “You were a loveable little rogue, the craic, the pint and the divilment, you were the life and soul of the party.”
He told mourners about Rickie as an adult: “You did your own thing, and you were your own man. You were destined for big things and your passion for everything you did shone through.”
He described how Rickie came everywhere with him, adding: “You got into the hearts and minds of so many people.
“You were destined for big things and your passion for everything you did shone through.”
He spoke for no more than a few minutes, but what he said was powerful and poignant, concluding: “Our family is heartbroken Rickie. We have fantastic memories, and you will be with us forever. I always had your back, and I always will. Love you, miss you forever, until we meet again.”
The congregation responded with sustained applause.
Rickie's brother Daniel explained how his brother wanted to surprise his dad with a special gift, a two-cow trailer he had always wanted.
Daniel said: ““Rickie had been hoping to get his hands on his grandad's two-cow trailer for his father - ‘the Rockstar'. Rickie wanted to fix up the trailer like it was brand new and give it as a present to his dad and as a thank you for all he has done for him and he did a lot for him.”
Straining to control his emotions, he told how in the early hours of Monday morning that trailer had been secured and he vowed that it would be made good as new. “We will make your wish come true Rickie,” he said.
Originally from Larkhill near Ballymote, Rickie Devine Junior sustained what proved to be fatal injuries when the SUV he was driving veered off the N17 on Thursday evening.
Just 19, his death has numbed and shocked his local community in Keash, Fr Gabriel Murphy told mourners on Monday.
He explained how in his too short life, Rickie Junior touched the hearts of so many people.
The principal celebrant, Father Murphy was joined on the Altar by brother priests Fr Tommy Towey, PP Ballisodare; Fr James McDonagh, PP Ballymote and Fr Paul Kivlehan, Ballaghaderreen Parish.
Fr Murphy said it was “a time of great sadness for the Devine family but also for the whole community where a young man's life had come to an end, and we are all left heartbroken”.
Fr Murphy said: “We know we were all devastated by the news of Rickie's death, and we are left wondering. We are left shocked, heartbroken that this beautiful life has been cut short, just when Rickie was beginning to come into his own person - that wonderful soul that was so full of love and fun, so full of talent and a great son, brother, uncle, grandson, cousin, a great friend who has gone over to God in the blink of an eye.
“We are all left so numb and weary. We pray that God will help us to accept the reality of what is before us and help us in the days, months and years to come.
‘FOREVER 19’
“Rickie will be ‘forever 19', all his peers are heartbroken too. The young man, Conor Mullan, who was with him also needs our prayers and we think of him today.
“We are acutely aware that every day when we turn on the news, we are visited with another road death. Every parish community in Ireland has been visited with the sadness of road accidents.
“All of us also know that we too have come through times when we came through shock of one kind or another.
“No mother or father or family wants to hear the news coming to their door of a death in their family, and yet this is the sad reality of what this community has to face and none of us have words to make sense of the loss we are experiencing.
“Rickie was so loved by you all, his parting is so difficult for everyone - his beautiful face, his cheeky smile, his roguish ways.
“You couldn't get cross with him because he would find a way to bring a smile back to your face.”
Fr Murphy, continuing, marvelled at how many friends Rickie had: “Rickie has so many friends. He packed so much into his short life, knew so many people.
TRACTORS
“Rickie loved all his modes of transport. I recall when he first took to the road that I remember you could see him coming with his blue tractor with the dazzling white wheels.
“I watched him operating the teleporter with his father, who is also called Rickie, and with that teleporter he could raise you to the heights and place something with such precision. We think of his diggers, his John Deere 6910 tractor,” he said.
He appealed to all who were grieving his death to always talk about Rickie and keep his memory alive.
Fr Murphy said the best way they could honour Rickie's life is to make the very best of the life that is given to us. “If we can use our every breath in useful ways to help others, that will be the greatest gift we can make of the life that God has given us.”
Concluding his homily, Fr Murphy read a reflection written by Michelle Conway:
“Rickie lived his young life with no fear,
And because of that he had a great time here.
He had family aplenty and friends galore,
No young man would want for more. He lived for the craic, the cars the tractor,
That he would leave us so soon, no one could factor.
Rickie worked hard, inside and out, You can be sure of that, there is no doubt.
He enjoyed the banter, and of course the odd drink,
None of us knew he'd be gone in a blink.
His loveable character, his cheeky smile,
His heart was full of giving, he was just with us for a while.
Rickie lived life to the brim,
And we can be proud we knew and loved him.
Following Requiem Mass, Rickie was interred at Knockbrack Cemetery.
He is dearly loved and sadly missed by his heartbroken parents Rickie and Eilish, his brothers Daniel and Darren, sisters Rachel and Elisha, sister-in-law Stephanie, nieces, nephew, grandparents, aunts, uncles, work colleagues, neighbours and many friends.
May he rest in peace.