Mourners at the funeral of tragic Armagh City Rugby player, Adam Hegarty, heard that the young man had been out with friends in Carlingford to celebrate the occasion of his 23rd birthday.
Beginning the ceremony, Canon John Kearney provided the family an opportunity to bring symbols of Adam’s life to the alter.
The first to be brought forward was a family photograph, including his mum Caroline, father Noel, brother Jack and sister Ellen, all of whom the priest said “meant the world to him”.
Representing Adam as a “man of great style and appearance”, they brought his boots and as a “fine, fit young man” who played Gaelic football for Saval and in recent years who became a very good rugby player… they brought a rugby ball.
For his trade as an electrician they brought forward a hi-vis jacket and some of his tools. As a young man growing up in rural Ireland, the priest added that “family and tractors were in his bones” and so, they brought, The Grassmen.
Canon Kearney told the congregation he was very much aware that “all words are inadequate to temper our grief or to begin to heal the pain being so keenly felt in our church this morning”.
He added: “Yet we have to talk about it, as we have been talking over the last days. Since Adam died we have been telling stories, asking questions, getting no answers. We want to know why this had to happen? Was there something we could have done? We continue to ask the question, why?”
Adam’s death, he said, had turned their world “upside down” leaving his family “plunged into a great darkness and desperately looking for a little light”.
But, he added that a little light comes from the “presence of so many people at his home on Rock Road” and in Chapel today for his funeral mass… for which his family will be “forever grateful” for.
The packed Shinn church saw mourners from as far as Moneymore – where his father, Noel grew up – those from the local community, from the “world of rugby” and from Saval GAA, where Adam had been a valued player. Countless others watched on across the “world wide web”, said Canon Kearney.
Welcomed as well was Deacon Andy who was a grand-uncle of Adam.
Canon Kearney reflected on his own personal feeling watching the cortege’s arrival at the church that morning, saying: “As I stood at the front door of the church our Deacon and saw the coffin come from the road up the short walkway to the main door it struck me… fewer burdens in life are heavier than the coffin of your son, your brother or your best friend on your shoulders.
“Our hearts go out today to Adam’s family and to the friends who shared the adventure of his young manhood.”
Explaining the events of that tragic evening, Canon Kearney continued: “Where does one begin to tell the story of Adam’s life? Born 23 years ago, his birthday was on Saturday last, and went out to Carlingford with friends to celebrate the occasion.
“He always had a great outlook on life and did many tings. He was coping well with his diabetes but little did anyone think that an unexpected flair in the middle of his birthday celebrations could have had such tragic consequences, a freak accident.”
Adam began his education at St Colman’s Primary School in the Saval Parish before moving on to The Abbey in Newry and then into the world of work in beginning an apprenticeship as an electrician… often getting up as early as 5am with his colleagues to head to work in Dublin.
Growing up in rural Ireland, the priest said farming and agriculture “fascinated him from an early age”.
In his early teens he was “in his element” working for his neighbour, Declan McCarthy. Enamoured with machinery, Adam would have been the first in to “put his name” on new tractors or equipment from the very beginning, said the priest.
He continued: “It wasn’t all work and no play. He was a good footballer and played for a number of years for Saval but he was a fine, fit, young fella went to the gym regularly and we welcome all the gym people here today as well.
“In latter years he changed coat to rugby playing, first for Newry at Derryleckagh before being spotted by rugby coaches and went to play for Armagh.
“He was chosen for the Ulster Youth Development squad. In the Armagh team he had a place in the Second X team and played on Saturday last where scored a try and indeed, he featured in Irish News a couple of days ago. It’s hard to take that here we are today with you, his family and friends paying our final respects and farewell.”
He said Adam “always lived life to the full” and always kept himself “dressed of the best”.
In anecdotal form, he said that of a Friday evening at 5pm he always had to get the hair cut, which prompted a few laughs from the knowing congregation.
He was always in the “latest style” and cared for his appearance so much that even after an evening’s milking he would go and shower before going back out on the tractor.
Said the priest: “No matter how well he had done or what he was at… he always pushed himself to be better.
“He was a people person and loved to meet people and talk to them about anything that interested them and no doubt he would tell friends what he had heard.
“He was always at ease with people and they were always at ease with him.
“He had a great sense of humour and no pretensions about him. He didn’t mind if you were a prince or a pauper, he was always himself. He was the same to everyone because he was secure in his own personality.
“His interest in people leant power to his memory of people and the sayings that they had. He knew many people all over the country and always saw the funny side of things.”
