Brother's plea to be safe on roads as Laois man laid to rest

A brother of a young man who tragically died in a crash in Laois urged others to be safe on the roads. 

Colm Lynch O’Sullivan(20) lost his life in a crash at Ballaghmore in the early hours of Thursday, June 26. 

Hundreds of mourners packed into St Molua’s Church in Ballaghmore on Monday morning to pay their respects to the young man who was known affectionately to his friends and family as Bear. 

Colm's friends brought a range of gifts to the altar to symbolise the life of the young man who worked in O’Sullivan Motors in nearby Roscrea, Co Tipperary. 

They included a headset to reflect his love of gaming in his early years, a rugby trophy showing his passion for the game, a toy car to illustrate his love of cars and motorsport and a trophy for an award winning tractor Colm had restored with his father and a photograph of Colm.

Chief Celebrant Fr Antun Pasalic asked mourners to remember Colm’s sister Grace who had gone before him. He told the family that he “hoped and prayed that the love and support of those around you will bring comfort in the days ahead” as he acknowledged the immense loss of “a loveable rogue” who he said was full of charm.  

He described Colm as a man who loved to chat and was a “gentleman, polite, kind and respectful” and someone who was always ready with a quick remark, eager to make people feel welcome and to have a laugh.

He said Colm had “a big heart, a big presence and maybe a big grumble if he was woken up too early.” 

Colm’s brother Brendan expressed his thanks to everyone who had called, rang and sent messages to the family.  He thanked the gardaí, the fire and ambulance service along with the staff at the mortuary in Portlaoise Hospital, Tierney Undertakers, neighbours, friends and Fr Pasalic and Fr Malachy Thompson from Mount St Joseph’s Abbey where Colm attended school at Cistercian College in Roscrea. 

He recalled how his brother was “larger than life kid” who was the apple of his mother’s eye.  Brendan said “Dad would have gone to the ends of the earth for Colm.” 

Brendan recalled his brother’s antics on trips to the Grand Prix in Austria and to one particularly late night during a visit to Cheltenham in the UK. “I can still see his cheeky smile at breakfast telling me he told everyone he was running two garages,” he said of the trip to Cheltenham.  

Brendan said his brother “had a wide range of friends, be it from cars to sports to tractors, everywhere he went he made friends. That is a great sign of a person.” 

“If I could say one thing today, it’s far from me to be a hypocrite, be safe on the roads and take care,” Brendan urged those gathered.  

“I love the bones of him and I hope we meet again one day,” Brendan concluded before showing a collage of photographs which had been compiled by Colm’s friends.  

Colm was laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining St Molua’s Church in Ballaghmore. 

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He is predeceased by his sister Grace and survived by his parents Olive and Con, brothers Brendan and Tómas, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, niece and extended family and friends.