A young Mayo man lost his life when he and a group of friends went swimming in the local Waikato River, On December 14, a hot summer day in Hamilton, New Zealand , his funeral Mass was told yesterday
Padraig Togher, brother of the late Peadar Togher (27) delivered a heartfelt eulogy to his younger sibling in a packed St. Brendan’s Church on the Erris Peninsula near Belmullet yesterday.
Padraig explained that in mid-December Peadar had just completed work on a tree planting project and was looking forward to spending Christmas with his other brother John’s family in NZ prior to setting off on his next adventure.
He went on to describe his brother, a multimedia designer, as “kind, caring, extremely open-minded, fun, person who could have a chat with anyone."
Fr. Kevin Hegarty, chief celebrant of the funeral Mass, told mourners that before Christmas 'Calvary came to the parish of Kilmore-Erris and planted its Cross at the home of Peadar’s parents, Patrick and Margaret'.
In mid-December the phone call came to Patrick and Margaret that every parents who has a son or daughter abroad dreads.
Consoling Patrick and Margaret and their other sons, John, Michael and Padraig, Fr. Hegarty said: "I have a sense that in the darkness of your grief the knowledge that Peadar lived a wonderful, though short, life would sustain them."
He added that Peadar came across to him as caring, kind, talented and vivacious and said he had left an indelible mark on all those who knew him.
“He loved life and lived it to the full. He had a wonderful openness to the wonders of life and had a great capacity for friendship. That is part of his legacy."
Following concelebrated Requiem Mass, Peadar was laid to rest in Emlybeg Cemetery.
