A large crowd at the funeral of 42-year-old Oliver Ollie Heslin from Castleroe, Maganey, Co Kildare, has heard that he was a man who was much loved by his family and members of the community in which he lived.
His wife, Sophia, told mourners that her husband had loved his children and always been there for his family.
Mr Heslin had been taking part in a charity motorcycle run for Carlow’s Holy Angels Day Care Centre for children with special needs when a car collided with his motorbike at 4.50pm last Saturday at an area known as Blanchfield Park, Clifden, Co Kilkenny.
The Requiem Mass took place at 11am on Thursday at The Church of St Laurence O’Toole, Levistown, Co Kildare, where a large motorbike guard of honour led the hearse carrying Mr Heslin’s remains to the church.
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Two other motorcyclists were injured in the collision and taken to University Hospital Waterford. One of the men injured in the accident rode as a pillion passenger taking part in guard of honour.
Mr Heslin’s wife, his young daughters Amelia, Elodie, Isabella, his mother Mary and father Mick, brothers Colm, Terence and Fergal were joined at the Mass by a large crowd that included relatives, friends and work colleagues from the security firm where he worked, Netwatch.
Six pallbearers carried his coffin adorned with white lilies and roses into the packed church. Symbols of Mr Heslin’s life were brought to the altar by his daughters and other family members: a family photograph, Leinster rugby shirt, hat and scarf to mark his love of the sport, motorbike and camper van magazines, a chisel to portray his skills as a craftsman and seat box marking his love of working outdoors.
Fr Aidan Kieran told mourners gathered inside and outside the church that Mr Heslin had been “so loved and so popular with so many people. There’s been great sadness in the area of course for the past few days after we learned the news that Oliver had died in such tragic circumstances.”
He had, said the priest, been “a wonderful man”.
In her eulogy at the end of her husband’s Mass, an emotional Mrs Heslin said: “On my first day here I could see how much he was so loved by his family and the community. There were so memorable moments … Ollie loved his babies, they meant so much [to him]. He was always there for us.”
His remains were cremated following his funeral at Newlands Cross Crematorium on the outskirts of Dublin.
James Hardy, a lawyer with an address of 172 Wright Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was remanded in custody with consent to bail and charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Heslin at Kilkenny District Court last Tuesday.