A six-year-old boy who died in an accident in Co Antrim has been described as a youngster who had “boundless enthusiasm, inquisitiveness and fearlessness”.
Hundreds of people attended the funeral of Joseph (Joe) Hegarty, who died in a quad bike accident on Friday.
Mourners who gathered at St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s Church in Ballycastle dressed in colourful sports clothing to honour the schoolboy’s love for sport and colour.
He was the much loved son of Andrea and Michael, and brother of Katie.
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Fr Con Boyle told the funeral Mass that Joe was at the farm with his friends on Friday, when in an instant, he was “taken from us”.
Symbols representing his life were brought to the altar, including a football jersey with the number 26 along with his hurling helmet and hurl, tennis racket and football.
He was a pupil at St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s Primary School in Ballycastle and played for Carey Faughs Hurling Club and Naomh Padraig GAA Club.
A family friend described Joe as a “force of nature”.
“Five minutes after you’d met Joe, you knew him and he knew you,” he told mourners.
“He was relentlessly enthusiastic, and when you made Joe laugh, he made everyone else laugh for you.
“He was six-years-old, but he was an oversized member of every team and tribe that he belonged to, whether that was the Hegarty and McIlroy families or his beloved Carey Faughs.
“He was a wonderful son to Andrea and Michael. He even let them live in his house.
“He was a rascal, and he made a share of fun, but Joe was fortunate to have two wonderful, loving parents and they were repaid with a son who adored them in return.
“He was a perfect brother and had a perfect sister in Katie. Katie and Joe were a double act, and that will never change because their special relationship is part of who Katie is, and she will carry Joe forever within her.
“He was a beautiful grandson, nephew, cousin and friend.
“We all loved being with Joe, and as we cope with our sadness, it’s our collective duty to share the funny memories that we shared with Joe.
“It was the most heartbreaking honour to be asked to stand here this afternoon and speak for Joe Hegarty on this day.
“None of this is fair, and grief feels insurmountable right now, but I will try my best to speak for Joe.
“Joe lived with boundless enthusiasm, inquisitiveness and fearlessness. He was Andrea and Michael’s little hero.
“If Joe didn’t know, he always asked the question, we should all do that. Joe never implied that he loved you. He told you and he showed you. We should all do that.
“Joe never failed at anything. He tried his best, and if it didn’t work out, he just tried harder, and we should all do that.
Pupils and staff from his primary school as well as his team-mates joined Joe’s family and friends for the funeral on Tuesday.
Fr Con Boyle said that Friday was another day of Joe’s holidays, and one that he spent with friends on a farm.
“Joe was himself full of energy, excited the way he always was. In an instant that afternoon in an accident, Joe was taken from us, and we are all just devastated beyond words,” Fr Boyle said.
“Our hearts are sore for Andrea, Michael and Katie, for Joe’s grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, all so close to him in the McIlroy and Hegarty families.
“This was an accident beyond our grasp to comprehend. We walk together through this tragedy.
“The last words he heard at the end of a phone call with his mammy and daddy at lunchtime on Friday, were words from his daddy telling him he loved him. – PA