Heartbroken friends and family gathered to say a final farewell to a 24-year-old Lurgan man, described at his funeral on Friday as the “heartbeat of the home” and “loyal right to the core”.
Ronan King, from Soye Gardens, died suddenly on Sunday, August 2, following a road traffic collision in Co Donegal. His girlfriend, Lucy Robb, was seriously injured in the collision and remains in hospital.
St Paul’s Church in Lurgan saw mourners wearing Celtic, Armagh and Liverpool tops – a poignant tribute to Ronan’s great sporting passions.
Fr Colm Murphy, celebrating the Mass, said Ronan was the “pride and joy” of his parents, Gerard King and Paula McCaffrey, and a devoted big brother to Callum and Jamie.
“Ronan was the first of three boys, born on the ninth of November 2001,” Fr Murphy told the congregation. “He was a curious wee boy, always trying to see how things worked, and especially enjoyed taking them apart to find out.
“From climbing out windows to locking himself in a room, you never knew what he would be at next. Granny Sheila called him Houdini because when they were out for a drive, she would have to make numerous stops just to put him back in the car seat.
“Then Callum and Jamie came along. Ronan was such a great big brother; they both looked up to him, and Paula’s life revolved around her boys.”
Fr Murphy recalled Ronan’s school days in Tannaghmore Primary and Lismore, where he made “lifelong friends”, many of whom gathered in the church on Friday morning. One close friend joined the funeral via webcam from Australia.
After his school days came to an end, Ronan followed his father Gerard into joinery – a path his family said was obvious from an early age.
“From no age, there wasn’t a piece of wood safe from Ronan,” Fr Murphy said. “He put holes not only in his wooden toys but half the furniture as well.
“He developed his passion for joinery in his job with Russell Brothers, starting there at age 16, and his workmates would always be sure of a bit of banter when he was around.”
Ronan’s love of sport was spoken of repeatedly during the service. A dedicated Armagh GAA supporter, he held a season ticket and travelled regularly with his mum and brothers to matches.
“He loved Gaelic football and was a huge Armagh fan, never missing a match,” Fr Murphy said. “He didn’t miss a match this season, and even managed to convert Lucy, who is an Antrim girl, into supporting his beloved Orchard County.”
That passion extended to Celtic and Liverpool, with his friends’ choice of shirts at the funeral reflecting how closely those clubs were woven into his life.
Fr Murphy also spoke of the happiness Ronan had found with his girlfriend, Lucy, whom he met in February last year.
“Two better suited people you’d be hard pressed to find,” he said. “They were like two peas in a pod, and brought out the best in each other. Lucy was fast becoming the daughter Paula never knew that she needed.”
Ronan’s aunt, Annieca, delivered an emotional tribute on behalf of the family, describing a young man whose quiet presence brought comfort and strength to all around him.
“In every family, there are people who become the heartbeat of the home. Ronan was one of those rare souls,” she said.
“At 24, he carried a gentleness and a strength that wrapped around his family like the warmest of hugs.
“To his parents, he was pride in its purest form, a son who never needed to try and make them proud because everything he did was already there… his kindness, his humour, his friendship, his love.
“To his brothers, he was the steady one, the one that you could lean on, the one who listened, the one who made you feel safe just by being in the room.”
She said Ronan’s loyalty – to his family, to his friends and to the teams he followed – was the hallmark of his life.
“His great passions in life were Celtic, Armagh and Liverpool, and not forgetting his wee dog. He carried them proudly,” she continued.
“He was a Celtic fan, an Armagh fan, a Liverpool fan, and the way he supported them mirrored the way he supported his family – fully, fiercely, never wavering – and loyalty was his signature, apparently on everything he touched.
“When his family and friends look back, we will remember the small things first: his laugh, his smile, all the silly little things, and the way he would stand beside you, just silent but strong.
“We will remember how he made life feel lighter, how he made love feel simple, how he made home feel safe. Ronan, you will forever be 24, and we will all love you forever.”
A reflection written by Ronan’s cousin Aoife was read aloud, painting a picture of a “cool older cousin” whose calmness and quiet strength left a deep impression.
“Ronan was a gentle soul, a rock to many, a great friend, an amazing brother, a loving son,” she wrote.
“The last I saw Ronan, we didn’t speak much. We didn’t need to. He was someone I looked up to, for his gentle demeanour, for his calm presence. He didn’t need to be loud to do that.
“When I imagine the family in my grandparents’ house or a big party at my auntie’s, Ronan is there. He always will be.”
Fr Murphy said the memories of “good food, good company and good laughs” with Ronan would sustain his loved ones in the difficult days ahead.
“Ronan loved his family and his friends fiercely, and enjoyed nothing more than a day out or a fun night in with his nearest and dearest,” he said. “It is these memories that they all will hold on to in these days, weeks, months, and even years ahead.”
Following Requiem Mass, celebrated in St Paul’s, burial took place in St Colman’s Cemetery.
