A nine-year-old boy who died last weekend after being hit in Co Donegal, touched and enriched the lives of everyone he met, his funeral heard, reports RTE.
Ronan Wilson, of Kildress, Co Tyrone, died in Bundoran on Saturday evening.
Headteacher of St Mary’s Primary School in Dunamore, Eileen Ward, said at the funeral that Ronan was a “beautiful little boy” who was loved by all.
Parish priest of St Mary’s Church, Dunamore, Father Paddy Hughes, said the whole community was devastated by the death and it was difficult to find words of comfort to offer his parents, Emma and Dean.
Several hundred people attended the funeral, including Ronan’s classmates and colleagues from Wolf Tones GAA club in Kildress.
Northern Ireland Sinn Féin leader Michelle O’Neill was also among the mourners, reports RTE.
Ronan’s white coffin arrived at the church in the back of a truck taxi with his football shirt on top.
His head teacher, Mrs Ward, said at the funeral that Ronan was a “special person”.
She described him as “one beautiful little boy who enriched the whole community of St Mary’s in his short life. He was a character, of that no-one would argue. He had such a huge personality and although small in stature, it was hard not to notice him when he entered the room. Everybody loved Ronan. Ronan wore his heart on his sleeve and was able to converse freely with his peers and adults,” reports RTE.
“He had endless stories to share and couldn’t wait to tell them. Ronan was a great friend to all in his class and there is no doubt they will miss him dreadfully. We may have been the educators in school, but Ronan has taught us so much more,” Mrs Ward said, reports RTE.
Fr Hughes said: “In his short life he had been involved in a lot of activities and touched the hearts of so many people, young and old. Since the news broke late on Saturday night of Ronan’s death in a hit-and-run accident, the whole of the parish has been stunned, indeed are lost for words,” reports RTE.
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