More than a thousand mourners crowded into a Co Limerick church yesterday for the funeral Mass of 21-year-old Brazil Burke, who died in a drowning accident in Ibiza last week.
A nephew of Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea, the Limerick Institute of Technology student, who was also known as Basil, drowned last Monday night while trying to swim ashore from a pleasure boat on the island holiday resort.
The only son of Mr O'Dea's sister, Mary Burke, and her husband, John, Brazil is also survived by his two older sisters, Lillian and Carole, and his grandmother, Maud O'Dea.
Hundreds of people, including the deputy chief of staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Pat Nash, packed the Church of St John The Baptist in Hospital yesterday for the funeral service.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was represented by Lieut Col Mathew Murray and a number of Mr O'Dea's Dáil colleagues were also present, including Peter Power, Michael Noonan and Michael Smith.
During his homily, chief celebrant Canon Conor Ryan described the civil engineering student as a "cheerful, witty and good-humoured" person who always had time for his family.
The huge number of people present yesterday was testament to the popularity of a young man with so many friends, he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Burke family, Ritchie Ryan, a cousin of the deceased, thanked the many mourners who travelled from across the country and paid special tribute to Brazil's friends who had been with him in Ibiza.
Items brought to the altar during the offertory procession, representing Brazil's life, included CDs and a toy tractor, which represented his two great passions, "music and machinery", the congregation was told. A rugby ball, a hurley and a riding cap were also among the gifts, representing his time with Galbally and LIT rugby teams, Hospital Herbertstown GAA Club and Scarteen Hunt.
Brazil Burke was one of five Irish people who died abroad in the space of one week.
The 21-year-old got into difficulties and drowned while trying to swim ashore from a pleasure boat during a trip with a friend in the port of San Antonio on the island of Ibiza.