Shane O'Brien, who tragically lost his life while training last week, got a warm and loving funeral in the Fermoy community where he grew up and lived with his parents and brothers
The father of Shane O'Brien, the 16-year-old junior international cyclist who lost his life in a training crash last week, has paid a loving and moving tribute to him at his funeral mass in Fermoy, Co Cork, today.
Eddie O'Brien said the funeral at a packed St Patrick's Church in Fermoy on Monday morning was "true Shaney-style, a full house".
He added while "we shed a lot of tears this week; me, Mary, Liam and Aidan, today is about celebrating his life". Eddie added he was glad to have his "wingman", Aidan, beside him on the altar for support.
While "last Tuesday changed our lives, and we can't go back", the community around the family had been of incredible support. Eddie told mourners that was a reflection of Shane's nature and his place in that community, and in the cycling community.
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"Where do I start with this fella? He was just incredible," Eddie told the packed church. "He was one of these guys... Even with his friends, he had such a nice bunch of friends and he always talked about you.
"He had his cycling friends and he had his school friends. And, I don't know how he managed it, but he seemed to connect them some way.
"They are a great bunch, don't ever change lads. And thanks for all the time you spent with him. You can judge a character by the company he keeps and Shane was certainly in good company."
The mourners were led by Eddie and Shane’s mam Mary along with Shane's brothers, Liam and Aidan, and grandparents Eddie and Anna. There was a strong representation from cycling clubs across the country, while Shane's friends from St Colman’s College Fermoy were also in the congregation.
Though a heartbreaking occasion, there was time for humour as Eddie told some stories about Shane.
Eddie said Shane was always very competitive. When he was a boy aged about 5 and Eddie was running a local 5km race, Shane insisted on entering the event with him.
"We got about a kilometre-and-a-half in, and I knew he was struggling. I said to him 'are you alright? and he was saying 'yeah, yeah, yeah'. We went on another bit and he said: 'I'm getting tired'. So, I said 'do you want to go up on my shoulders?' and he said 'yeah'".
Eddie then continued the race, now carrying a passenger who was drinking all of his water and taking in his surroundings, looking into the fields, from his new vantage point.
Shane declined repeated invitations get to down, as Eddie, starting to wilt, gently encouraged him to give the run another go.
"About 500 metres before we got back to Fermoy, he had my water finished, and he said 'you know, I think I'll run the rest of the way'. And it was all downhill at this stage."
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Eddie said Shane took off away from him at speed, leaving him behind. He crossed the line in the local GAA club, getting the perfect shot from a photographer, with his two feet off the ground. He had a "big grin" across his face, with Eddie visible trailing behind in the photo.
"I knew well the big grin was because he was after beating me," Eddie said, adding he then got texts from people he knew, who saw the photo, commenting on how Shane had beaten him in the race.
Turning to Shane's cycling career, Eddie told mourners his son was really looking forward to racing as a junior this year and next. He was "so delighted when he got picked to ride with CAMS Majaco", though now he would not get to enjoy that opportunity.
"It's hard, we had so many hopes and dreams for him, which is the cruelty of it," he said. "Unfortunately last Tuesday changed our lives.
"I was lying in bed at 3 or 4 o'clock last Wednesday morning and it just hit me, one of my best friends wasn't coming home. A quarter of my world had fallen out.
"Shane, we are broken-hearted, life will never be the same without you. You were such fun and craic... we just want to celebrate you today."
Eddie said Shane would always want to go and visit his granny. Even when they were rushing to a race, Shane would insist on stopping in. Eddie jokingly told mourners he now suspected there was a "financial transaction" at the heart of it.
"We just hope, Shane, we did our best for you. We couldn't be there the day you had your accident. We love you always Shaney."
Eddie also asked mourners to keep in their thoughts and prayers, the man driving the truck on the day Shane crashed near Lismore, Co Waterford, last Tuesday.
He said "it was a complete accident, it was nobody's fault". He did not want another family "wrecked".
Shane had just been selected on his first Irish junior team, riding the Course de la Paix Juniors in the Czech Republic - a UCI Junior Nations Cup stage race - last month in the green of Ireland.
He was expected to ride the National Road Championships - TT and road race - this week in Co Mayo and was training towards that when he was tragically killed.
His burial took place at Coole Abbey graveyard, just outside Fermoy, following the funeral mass on Monday.
From us here at stickybottle, we want to extend our condolences to Mary, Eddie, Aidan and Liam and all the O’Brien family and all of Shane’s many friends.
There was overwhelming warmth for this young boy in the outpouring of tributes paid to him over the last week. He clearly made a huge impact on the people in his life. Rest in peace Shane.
