"The brightest star in our sky" - former GAA president pays tribute late young Laois man

Adam Kirwan was a once-in-a-generation human being who was the brightest star in the lives of family and friends.

So spoke, former GAA president Liam O'Neill in his tribute at St Fintan's Church Mountrath on Sunday at the funeral Mass of the late Adam Kirwan on Sunday, March 3. LISTEN ABOVE read below.

Mr O'Neill, who taught Adam in Gaelscoil Thromaire, told the congregation that he was honoured to speak on behalf of the Kirwan and Hosey families.

"I was lucky to have been a friend of Adam's and like everybody here today, my life was made happier for having made to know him," he said.

He spoke of the impact of the young Mountrath man's death.

"The loss of Adam has left the communities of Trumera, Mountrath and surrounding communities enveloped by a pall of sadness and grief and helplessness the like of which we have seldom seen before," he said.

Mr O'Neill explained why.

"Adam is the type of person who comes along once in a generation. He was the brightest star in our sky because he had a really special way of making everybody feel good about themselves. Put simply he had happiness wherever he went," he said.

Adam's former principal said he had the honour to teach Adam in Gaelscoil Thromaire where he also thought his mother Lourda and her sisters.

He said Adam he loved Gaelschool Thromaire and Mountrath Community School and Mary Immaculate College Thurles and he thanked the president of the college in Tipperary Eugene Wall for attending the funeral.

As for Adam's hurling, Mr O'Neill said the young man had a huge number of admirers not just in their club Trumera but in all Laois hurling clubs. He said this was evidenced by a large number of players and representatives from clubs who attended the funeral. He said they recognised his skills but also sporting manliness on the field.

"Adam loved hurling. From his early childhood, he had a hurley in his hand," said Mr O'Neill.

He said Adam's extended family travelled to all his matches and gave unending support including being brought to All-Ireland hurling finals as a young boy.

He said Adam had a stellar career in schools and always wanted to play for Laois something he achieved in recent years at minor and U20 levels. Mr O'Neill said the attendance of his teammates and mentors from these teams at the funeral to honour him was a lovely compliment to Adam.

He paid tribute to Adam as a student and praised his ability to learn Gaeilge. He said he was loved by all his teachers who 'had great fun teaching him' but also reminded by Adam that 'there was work to be done'. He said there was delight that Adam had decided to become a teacher and had chosen Gaeilge and religion.

"He would have been an inspirational teacher and a huge addition to any school community," he said.

He paid tribute to Trumera club for their support given to the Kirwan family since Adam lost his life in a car accident last week in Thurles. He said Adam played a huge part in the club's recent victories none more so than the Laois Intermediate Championship Final victory in 2021. 

Mr O'Neill said Adam's family thank everybody for the help received since his death something that the family would not forget.

"No words can convey to the Kirwan and Hosey families nor indeed to all of his relatives, how heartbroken we are at the loss of Adam. We were honoured to share this wonderful man with them. As Trumera GAA put it he was the light of all of our lives.

"He has been taken from us far too early but in putting the emphasis that he did in family, school, club and community and furthermore in exemplifying in his actions the values of love and loyalty, service and friendship, he has achieved much more than many do in a much longer lifetime.

"In losing Adam we have lost an inspirational young man. However, we would want him to know that he made a huge impact in his short life and all of us are richer from having known him.

"Táimid craoí go raibh sé imithe uaim. Slán Adam," concluded Mr O'Neill.