‘Numbness’ and ‘shock’ in Thurles as young MIC student hurler Adam Kirwan is laid to rest

There was great shock and grief around Thurles last week following the death of young Laois man Adam Kirwan who tragically lost his lift in a car accident in the town.

Gardaí and emergency services were called to the scene of the fatal single vehicle road traffic incident that occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, March 2 at College Green in Thurles.

Kirwan was treated for his injuries at the scene by paramedics but they were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

He leaves behind his grieving parents Lourda and Paul Kirwan and his sister Marie from whom he was said to have been inseparable.

A former pupil of Gaelscoil Thromaire and Mountrath Community School, Adam was a student of the Mary Immaculate College attending college in Thurles town.

He was best known for his GAA success on the hurling field with his club Trumera as well as for Mary I and Laois.
Just recently, he played midfield for Mary I in their Ryan Cup win.

TRIBUTE

Thurles Sarsfields man Cian Treacy was the manager of the Ryan Cup winning MIC Thurles team and he said that there was great “numbness” amongst the players with whom Adam had achieved success on the field just two weeks before his untimely passing.

“It’s just tragic,” said MIC Thurles manager Cian Treacy when speaking about the Laois man’s passing.

“It all just happened so fast.

“We were out on the field celebrating the win and the next thing we knew we were burying him in Mountrath,” Treacy said.

“He was a super player. When he came into us first he was known as a forward but we relocated him out to midfield and he was just brilliant for us all the way through to the final.

“He was so dedicated on and off the field to playing the game and he always put huge effort into every training and game.”

Speaking about the news breaking to him and the panel of players who had soldiered with Kirwan during their Ryan Cup campaign and he heaped praise on the players for their response to their teammates sad passing.

Treacy said: “There was just a numbness and sense of shock amongst the players after we found out the news and the whole panel have just been exceptional in the aftermath with everything,” he recalled.

‘STICK TOGETHER’

“They have really put themselves forward to help the Kirwan family as much as they can and everyone involved around Trumera where he was from.

“All the lads can do now is stick together and try and cope with the loss as best as they can,” he added.

Family, friends and a huge congregation of mourners converged on Mountrath for the funeral last Sunday, with hundreds in and outside St Fintan’s Parish Church amongst the thousands of people who have travelled to the Laois town to extend their heartfelt sympathy and support to Adam’s family heartbroken family who said a final painful goodbye to the 22-year-old.

The Mass was also attended by his teammates and coaches from Mary Immaculate College in Thurles, along with Adam’s wide circle of friends from schools in Laois, teammates, coaches and representatives from the GAA community from his club Trumera, his county Laois and people from around the country.

Mountrath Parish Priest, Fr Joe Brophy, led mourners a the funeral Mass in the packed Parish Church on Sunday afternoon and amongst those who spoke were Adam’s older sister Marie who talked about her brother in the form of a letter, and former GAA President Liam O’Neill who taught Adam during his time at Gaelscoil Thromaire delivering the eulogy on behalf of the Kirwan and Hosey families.