'A fantastic person with a big heart' funeral for lionhearted Laois man

The funeral has taken place of Laois man Shane O’Neill, 49, who drowned while on holiday with friends in Gran Canaria on December 11.

The Portarlington chef, businessman, husband and dad of three boys, was remembered for his constant smile, friendliness, willingness to help anyone in need, community activities and love of his family, at his Requiem Mass in St Michael’s Church on Friday morning, December 23.

Lions Club Ireland and Church View Residents Association both formed Guards of Honour, with a packed congregation attending the service, including the District Governor of Lions Club Ireland Ger Cashman.

Tokens representing Shane's love of driving, of walking with his dog Penny and family in the Slieve Blooms, and of socialising at his local pub, were placed on his coffin.

Celebrating the service, Fr Joe O’Neill said that Shane’s death brought great shock and sadness.

He said Shane had brought energy and enthusiasm in his lifetime, with a great sense of fun and adventure and community.

“Shane was a good husband, father, son, brother and friend. He dreamed big and he worked hard. He was involved with O’Dempseys and Arlington soccer over the years, he packed a lot into the years granted to him,” he said.

Laurence O’Keeffe spoke on behalf of Portarlington Lions Club, which he had joined with Shane in 2010.

“Shane was always the one you could turn to when something needed to be done. For many years he shied away from leadership roles. He would say ‘just tell me what needs to be done, I will do it, but don’t give me a title’. 

“He was always smiling, he had time for everyone. He was a fantastic people person with great compassion. 

“He was involved in many projects, of note, hosting the President of the Lions Club International Foundation, being recognised for his service to the community with a certificate of appreciation from the Lions Club of Ireland, and being key in Portarlington Lions Club being recognised for its work by receiving the Lions Club of the Year award in 2016.

“Shane was known for all the work he gave the Lions Club diabetes screening at the National Ploughing Championships, where he put in long days often going at five in the morning, not getting finished until 11 at night. In the time Shane was involved, it went from testing 700 people to over 7,000. 

“The Lions Club is a family affair, Martina and the boys assisted Shane in the work he did for the Lions and the community. Martina especially was a great help with the diabetes screening providing her time and expertise with testing and sourcing volunteer nurses. 

“What a privilege it was to serve with Shane as a Lion, and to consider him a good friend. To be a friend of Shane’s meant he was always there for you, and with that powerful smile.

“Lions Clubs have a motto, we serve, and Shane embodied that. To Martina, Jack, Cian and Eimhin, Shane was a fantastic person with a big heart, and that heart will always be in your hearts now,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

A beautiful tribute written by Shane’s wife Martina was read out.

“It has been said that we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. Shane made a great life. He was the most giving and loyal person I’ve ever known. Not only with his possessions but his time and his belief in others. 

“He is the first born son of his living parents Hugh and Trudy, he was followed by his brother Darragh and sister Eimear. He spent many a happy childhood summer in Leitrim which became a favourite for us both. He was one of the most amazing drivers I know. 

“I met Shane at a birthday party when he was 17 and it was a blind date. He was attending school in Knockbeg. He completed his chef training in Athlone and I moved to Dublin to start nursing, but even with a county between us we made it work. We spent many weekends sneaking into each other’s student accommodation.

“After nine years of dating, Shane popped the question, and I accepted. We moved to Church View to start the next chapter and raise a family. We are very lucky to have three wonderful children and we are so proud of the wonderful people they have become. 

“We had 32 years together, lots of happy memories, a few hard times, but Shane always made me feel loved and special. We were and will remain soulmates. 

“Shane’s career was varied, he worked from grill chef to head chef but he was happiest when he started his own catering business. His passion for this was immense. He had such strong belief in himself and big dreams for our future. He never stopped making plans. 

“Shane was a people person, he loved a chat, a joke, sharing a pint, being part of our community, and his involvement in the French Festival, local clubs and more recently the Lions Club. His generosity was well known. 

“Shane, our future was cut short, but you gave me a wonderful family, happy memories and more love than I could ever ask for. For this we will be forever grateful, beyond thankful, for having you in our lives. We will never forget you or stop loving you,” his wife wrote.

His son Jack wrote a beautiful tribute on behalf of himself and brothers Cian and Eimhin.

“Dads are someone to look up to, to follow, to admire, to brag about, to learn from, to respect, to try and impress, and sometimes to rebel against. 

“We are so grateful that we have had this with our Dad. He loved us very much. 

“He showed his affection with actions rather than words, he would involve us in his life, his work, his friends. And his time volunteering or helping someone who needed something. 

“Our childhood with Dad and Mam was spent going to the Slieve Bloom mountains nearly every Sunday. No hike would be complete without Dad going off trail, he had a fascination for nature and history. We can’t forget the metal detector, nowhere was safe. That time we spent together will always be cherished. 

He said they and his animal loving dad would “sneak out and arrive home with a zoo of animals”, to the surprise of their mother. That favour was repaid by his boys getting up at 5am to work at events with Shane.

“Every dinner had half an hour of Dad’s show which consisted strictly of Dad jokes. Dad we love you and we will always miss you,” Jack wrote.

Shane's brother Darragh recalled an idyllic childhood with him, along with their sister Eimear.

“Shane was always sociable, and even at five years of age, he was crawling through a gap in our neighbour’s fence, demanding a cup of coffee at the back door.

“Christmasses, marching through fields in in our Granny and Grandad’s farm in Leitrim with our cousins Mark and Nicky. Carving out names in trees as we went, armed with sticks and knives and torches. Wearing wellies that never fit and getting stuck in bogholes.

“Holidays in France, travelling hundreds of miles pulling a caravan, myself Shane and Eimear squashed in the back, getting pinched and poked all the way. Myself and Shane buying firecrackers to bring home and put in cow pats and blow them up. 

“Wherever Shane went, he took his charm with him and I’ve no doubt he pulled out all the stops to win over Martina. 

“The tragic passing of Shane has left a hole in all our lives, one that will never be filled. But at least we can console ourselves with the happy stories and memories he left behind,” Darragh O’Neill said.

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The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust was thanked for helping to bring Shane’s remains home, with thanks also given to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the civil service and the coastguard and sea rescue and emergency services in Gran Canaria.

He is mourned by his wife Martina, sons Jack, Cian and Eimhin, parents Hugh and Trudy, sister Eimear, brother Darragh, parents-in-law Charlie and Louise, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.

A family cremation service will take place later.