'He was always smiling and making people laugh', Laois funeral told

Mourners recalled how a young Laois man who tragically died in Greece had enriched the lives of all he met. 

Rory Deegan’s father Joe thanked the community who had rallied around his family at this sad time. 

“It is really hard for us to comprehend that we will never hear that beautiful laugh or see that beautiful smile again,” he told mourners at St Tighearnach's Church in Cullohill this afternoon.  

The 23 year-old was on holiday on the Greek island of Zakynthos when the tragedy occurred on Sunday, June 25. He was found unresponsive in a pool and despite efforts at resuscitation, he died. 

Rory’s sister Rachel spoke of Rory’s love for hurling and his club The Harps GAA, as his Cullohill National School jersey, Cullohill Handball jersey, his first hurl and the last Harps jersey he wore were presented as symbols of Rory’s life. 

She recalled her brother's love of animals and how he called his dog Spud, his queen. She likened her brother to St Francis Of Assisi as a photo of Spud was brought to the altar by Rory’s younger brother Jack.   

“Rory, like St Francis, loved all animals but was drawn in a particular way to the abandoned or lost ones, or the ones that nobody else wanted,” Rachel explained.  

Another of Rory’s loves were runners and his brother Barry brought a pair of runners Rory had designed to the altar. 

Rachel spoke of Rory’s great friends and how he had travelled widely with them during his life. Two of his close friends, Aaron and Nathan, brought a phone and an airline ticket to the altar to symbolise that love of friendship and travel. 

Although he never admitted his support of Liverpool, his brother Conor brought Rory’s Liverpool jersey and scarf as a reminder of the special memories they shared together on their trips to Anfield in Liverpool. Other symbols of his life were a prospectus from Limerick IT, a Limerick jersey and Rory’s uniform from Centra in Urlingford. 

“When Rory was not in college he worked in the family business in Centra, Urlingford. He loved meeting everyone and, as he would say himself, everyone loved him.  He was right,” Rachel said.  

His cousin and chief celebrant,  Fr Bobby Fletcher, spoke of the sadness engulfing the Deegan and Cullen families and the wider community.

“Somebody once described a special person as one who acts from the heart and keeps in mind the hearts of others. One who spreads love with a smile, one who is admired and can never be replaced. Whoever came up with that definition must have known Rory,” Fr Fletcher said. 

“A bubbly good humoured person who simply made others feel special. He was a great son. A great brother, a great character and now is a great loss,” he said.  Fr Fletcher described Rory as someone who loved deeply and was deeply loved. 

“Rory's smile and good humoured ways reached the depths of many hearts,” he said. 

In tribute to his brother, Conor recited You’ll Never Walk Alone to the congregation and his brother Barry sang Christy Moore’s Ride On. 

Rory’s father Joe thanked the community in Cullohill, Harps GAA,  the undertaker, priests, gardai and all those who had comforted the family in recent days. He spoke of how Rory had enriched the lives of his family and how he knew him as “the greatest Rory”. 

“He was always smiling and making people laugh and he had a fantastic way of connecting with people with his warm charming personality,” he said. 

“I would like now to speak directly to the young people here.  Life is a gift, go and live your best life. Use every talent that you have been given but remember, life is fragile, never take it for granted. Look after it and treasure it,” he advised. 

Harps GAA Club pays tribute to Rory Deegan

He said that while as a family they feel cheated, they remain very grateful to have had Rory in their lives for 23 years. 

Rory was laid to rest in the cemetery beside the church following his funeral mass. He is survived by his parents Joe and Diane, brothers Conor, Barry, Ross, Jack and sister Rachael, his grandparents Donal and Margaret, uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family, neighbours, his large circle of friends and his beloved dog Spud.