Hundreds of mourners lined the grounds and interior of the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, in Ashford, Co Wicklow, yesterday, for the funeral of James O'Connell, who died at the weekend following a water-skiing accident in Kildare.
A keen sportsman, the 30-year-old was participating in a national water-skiing competition at the Golden Falls Water Ski Club in Ballymore Eustace on Sunday when, at about 4.15pm, he was reported to have hit the water at an acute angle following a jump, rendering him unconscious.
He was taken to Naas General Hospital but, despite efforts to revive him, died some hours later. He was the eldest male in a family of two boys and three girls.
The son of prominent Wicklow businessman Joe O'Connell, James, from Ballyhenry, Ashford, was involved in both polo and water skiing.
Having qualified as a mechanical engineer, he worked with Jaguar in Britain for some time before returning to Wicklow where he was employed as chief engineer with the family business, Universal Innovations, based in Kilcoole.
The large turnout at yesterday's funeral Mass, including the presence of Wicklow TD and Labour Party deputy leader Liz McManus, Arklow councillor Nicky Kelly and former Wicklow county manager Blaise Treacy bore testament to the popularity of Mr O'Connell, and the high esteem in which he was held in the county.
During the funeral Mass, Mr O'Connell paid tribute to his son, saying his death was not only a great loss to the family, but to the wider community.
James was laid to rest in Trinity Cemetery, a small rural graveyard adjoining land owned by the O'Connell family, just outside Ashford.