Mourners at the funeral of 13-year-old Tiarnán Trainor heard how he was an “energetic, funny, bubbly wee boy” who “packed a lot of living” into his 13 years.
Tiarnán’s funeral was held today (Tuesday) at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Jonesborough where, accompanied by symbols of his life, mourners heard of a boy whose great ambition and popularity was cut short.
TT, as he was known, died as a result of a quad bike collision in the Killeavy area on January 2,
The schoolboy passed away at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, as a result of his injuries.
He was the loved and cherished son of Conor and Majella Campbell, Conor’s partner Sharon and Majella’s partner Scott and the much loved brother of Aimee and Ellie-Mae.
He was also the devoted grandson of Donal and Mary Trainor and Gervase and Teresa Campbell.
The congregation was told that Tiarnán, a pupil at St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, had keen sporting interests, and aspired to become a lorry driver in the future.
The priest said: “A dark cloud of grief and anguish has descended over most of South Armagh since last Thursday. All of us are heartbroken at the sudden and untimely nature of Tiarnán’s passing, because it’s a very different kind of loss.
“Tiarnán is being mourned by so many people because he has roots all over the county, and indeed the country: here in Jonesborough, Cloughoge, Killeavy, Bessbrook and Newry.
“Tiarnán was an energetic, funny, bubbly wee boy who was one of life’s characters.”
Tiarnán was a devoted sportsman, playing for Killeavy GFC, St Paul’s High School year 10 Gaelic Football team, alongside boxing for the John Bosco Youth Club and a desire to play for his school’s soccer team.
The priest continued: “He loved lorries, especially Scania lorries, as his dad Conor, and his uncles Declan and Donal had lorries, as did David his cousin, whom Tiarnán looked up to.
“He had aspirations to become like David and he admired him so much that he asked him to become his sponsor at Confirmation. Tiarnán had hopes of becoming a lorry driver one day, and perhaps an electrician too.
Another one of his interests was reading. His mother Majella told me Tiarnán like to read newspapers and articles on Irish history. Tiarnán was also interested in family history… that gave him a sense of his place in the world.”
Mourners were told that Tiarnán was a “very good child”, who was kind to his sisters and had a great relationship with them.
“Tiarnán’s goodness was also matched by good manners. His manners were impeccable, he always said please and thank you,” the priest continued.
“His teachers said he would always speak to them when he passed them on the corridor. He was always in good form and took everything in his stride.
“It could be said that Tiarnán packed a lot of living into those 13 years.”
He also paid tribute to the medical staff who treated Tiarnán, stating they did “everything they could” to help him, before “God stepped in and took Tiarnán to himself”.
The mourners also heard from two of Tiarnán’s best friends, who described him as the “life of the party”.
His heartbroken mother Majella said: “Tiárnan, affectionately known to us as TT, was many things – full of love, affection, kindness, adventure, curiosity, devilment, eager to please and stubborn in equal measure.
“He tested us both as parents which made us love him all the more. Life was never dull with Tiarnán.
“We are blessed as parents to have called Tiarnán our son. We will now have to continue in this world without him but hold the memory of our beloved Tiarnán in our hearts.
“Conor and I brought TT into this world, and he was, without doubt, our world.”
She added: “Sadly for Tiarnán, he was not destined to remain with us, but we will cherish every moment we had to spoil, nurture, love and share in the short live of our beautiful son.”
