The funeral of popular teenager Shane Hickey today heard how he was a “legend” with a “lust for life” whose legacy will live on.
And a friend of the 15-year-old’s relatives told how he entered the world as a “heartbreaker” but leaves his family and wide circle of friends with their “hearts broken.”
Talented schoolboy Shane was laid to rest on Monday following a service at St Mary’s Church, Edenderry in Co Offaly.
Read More: Tributes paid to 'lovely friendly guy' as third year student killed in Offaly tractor crash named
The Junior Cert student died last Thursday evening when the tractor left the road and “entered a deep drain” at Black Castle Bog at Clonmore, according to gardai.
Addressing the packed church, family friend Michelle Brennan said how using the word “was” has never been so hard but the stories told by mourners over the past few days has given everyone comfort.
And she told the church: “From the time Shane was born he was a heartbreaker.
“His chubby little face and his cheeky grin smiling up at you.
“You can never give out to him, not that you had to though.
“He was always a good kid, pleasant and fun loving. Shane was very popular with his teammates, he had a word for everyone, both young and old.
“His brothers Alex and Evan and his cousins idolised him. He would happily play with them for hours. Whether it was chasing chickens or making TikToks, he didn’t mind.
“I’m sure his girlfriend Holly would agree that he grew to be a lovely handsome young man.”
She added: “Shane entered this world a heartbreaker and [is] sadly leaving us all with our hearts broken.”
Michelle explained how Shane had a “lust for life” and he could not wait to be earning money.
The young lad helped build sheds, footed turf, worked on the farm and “loved nothing more than wheeling and dealing with his granddad Eddie buying and selling cattle.”
He was a keen sportsman too, playing rugby and football with his local clubs and school, winning a number of medals.
Michelle said: “Shane had so many plans and whatsmore, he would have achieved them. He had so much get up and go about him. He wanted to be in the middle of everything and embraced it all with gusto.”
Michelle also explained how everyone is reminded of Shane when you look around, and although he was just a teenager, his legacy will live on forever.
She added: “The shed at the back of his house where he helped build a wall, where he planned to keep his cattle. His dogs Molly and Daisy, his jerseys and his medals. He has packed a lot into his short life, and honestly to everybody that knew Shane, he was a legend.
“And that’s his legacy. Remember the absolute legend Shane Hickey.”
Parish priest Fr Liam Lawton said Shane had lived a “happy and full life.”
And he said: “Shane died as ever with his boots on, with his tractor on the land which he loved so much.
“He is very happy now but we are left to console ourselves at his loss but we will see him again.
“Shane will stay forever young in our hearts but he is very near to us though we cannot see him. He will watch over our comings and goings and he will be very close. His death is not the end. Death does not have the last word, life does.”
Symbols brought to the altar to remember his love of mechanics included a pliers and other tools as well as jerseys to show how much sport was a part of his life.
Following the service, Shane was laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
He is survived by his parents Paula and Richard, brothers Alex and Evan, grandparents Josie and Eddie McKeon and Noel and Marie Hickey and his wider family along with his girlfriend Holly and a large circle of friends.
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