The late Lewis Kelly was 'full of life, full of warmth,' funeral hears

The late Lewis Kelly was described as someone who "had self-confidence, carried himself well and showed respect and discipline."

The community of north Inishowen came to a standstill this afternoon for the funeral of the promising Culdaff sportsman, who passed away aged just 18, peacefully at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, surrounded by his loving family, having taken unwell last Friday.

Mourners packed into St Patrick's Church, Aughaclay, while many more stood outside or watched from Funeral Director Eamonn McLaughlin’s stream, during one of the biggest funerals ever witnessed in the area.

Lewis was a talented player for Malin GAA and Culdaff FC, and both clubs formed guards of honour for the 18-year-old.

Lewis’ Malin clubmates, wearing club colours, filtered in to remember their teammate, with framed shirts from both clubs on the altar, all bearing the No 3.

Carndonagh Community School, where the popular sixth-year had been due to sit his Leaving Cert next month, put on buses to bring devastated staff and pupils to the funeral, which was concelebrated by Fr Peter Devlin.

The pride in Lewis from his parents, Michelle and Hugh, the gathering was told, was always evident. He will also be sorely missed by his sister Zevagh, his brothers Quinn and Regan and his girlfriend, Darcey. Lewis was the cherished grandson of Breege, Michael (RIP), Mary and Brian (RIP).

“Lewis certainly made his mother and father proud,” Pat McLaughlin, former Malin GAA chairman, said. “There was very rarely a match when they weren’t there to watch him. He had self-confidence, carried himself well and showed respect and discipline. He treated everyone very well, in the way he spoke to people.

“There’s a saying in the GAA community,  and you see it advertised on the TV as well, ‘where we all belong’, and Lewis certainly belonged with us. In sport, you can become a leader. Last year, we gave him the chance to become a leader when he became captain of our minor team. He was very proud of that, as his family were. Look at his friends and teammates today and how proud they were of him. Lewis Kelly was their captain and leader.”

Johnny McGuinness admitted he was honoured to speak about Lewis, who he said: “Loved his football and his Football Special, so long as it was in a glass bottle and not a plastic one.”

Mr McGuinness of the family-owned pub in Culdaff, where Lewis worked,  added: “We watched him grow. He had the rare ability to speak to all ages and make everyone laugh. He never once complained and would never leave without offering a helping hand. He was funny and full of life, full of warmth.

“He was full of confidence, full of mischief. He could turn an ordinary morning on the farm into a story that would stay with us forever. We would like to think that we try to teach certain people certain social skills in their work, but in those cases, it was Lewis teaching us. Rest in peace, Lewis.”

A fundraiser set up by the kindhearted local community to support Lewis’ family on GoFundMe, ‘Honouring Lewis – A Community's Love,’ has raised over €110,000 in three days.

Lewis, following the Requiem Mass, was taken to his final resting place at Lagg Graveyard, as Jealous of the Angels rang around St Patrick’s.

The song, which features poignant verses about missing a loved one, with a chorus that reflects on their passing: "There will be another angel around the throne tonight; your love lives on inside of me, and I will hold on tight; it's not my place to question, only God knows why I'm just jealous of the angels, around the throne tonight.”