RIP: 'Goodnight, I love you,' funeral takes place of 20-year-old Tipperary man

Tributes have been paid after the sudden passing of a young Tipperary man who was laid to rest on Monday afternoon.

20-year-old Conor O'Loughlin, Tickincor, Clonmel, county Tipperary passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday.

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He is pre-deceased by his Granny Tess, Granny Clare and Uncle Pat.

Beloved son of Liam and Carmel he will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his heartbroken parents, brothers Sean and Liam, sister Síofra, grandfathers John and Jimmy, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and friends.

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Funeral Mass took place at 12pm in St Mary's Church, Irishtown, Clonmel.

Burial took place afterwards in St Patrick's Cemetery.

Carmel, Conor's mother delivered a moving eulogy for her son, reflecting on the happy memories they shared as a family together. “I suppose at a time like this the memories and the good times come flooding back,” she said.

She spoke of a special moment the family had together. “As a family, we had a bit of time with Conor together thanks to Theresa in the mortuary in Waterford. Who facilitated a visit and was so kind to us,” Carmel said.

“While we were there with him Sean, one of Conor’s older brothers had a recollection that one of his favourite songs when he was a young boy was ‘All Star’ by the band Smashmouth from the film Shrek. So we played it for Conor, and the 5 of us sang along. And one of the lines that really struck us when we listened to it was ‘only shooting stars break the mould,’ I think that sums up our Conor," she said. 

Carmel described her son as a singular presence in their lives. “He was a bright, shining, shooting star. For us he was unique, he was a once off original who broke the mould.”

Carmel spoke of her son’s bedtime routine, a cherished ritual he followed for most nights since childhood.

“He would come to me and say ‘I am going to bed now, do you want to say a prayer,’” she recalled. The Hail Mary was Conor’s favourite prayer. Afterward, they would exchange goodnights and hugs.

“Conor was a hugger he gave the best hugs, so we would then say goodnight, I love you. Tuesday night was the last time we got to do that bedtime ritual. For now there will be no more goodnights, no more hugs from Conor, no more I love yous, no more see you in the mornings, no more Mam what’s for dinner, mam where are my shoes.”

Carmel asked those gathered to honour Conor by joining her in one final Hail Mary.

In her closing words of tribute to her son Carmel said, “say hello to granny Tess and granny Clare for us, goodnight, I love you, we love the very bones of you Conor, we will miss you everyday for the rest of our lives. We won’t see you tomorrow morning our lovely boy, our beautiful boy, our shooting star who broke the mould, but we will see you some bright morning soon, where we will get to hug you again, goodnight, I love you.” 

Father Michael Toomey, Chaplain at CBS High School in Clonmel, spoke briefly at Conor’s funeral, offering words of reflection and comfort.

“I know there has been great devastation and shock at Conor’s passing, and I think that is where we start. Some of Conor’s friends I’ve been speaking to briefly and there is a numbness. What to do, what to say, how do we move on from this? Just be there for each other, even if you do not say anything, just being with someone I think is very important,” he said.

He acknowledged the enduring question left by Conor’s sudden death. “The one question that will always stay with us forever is why? And I think that is the cruelty of a sudden death like Conor’s. We will never know the answer to that question not in this life anyway.”

He addressed the experience of despair that many face. “Sometimes all of us at one point in our lives go into a dark place, we don’t see a future. It is like there is a darkness that we just can’t get out of and there is no escape.”

Encouraging open conversation, he highlighted the importance of seeking help. “Thankfully more and more we talk about this illness of depression, this feeling of unworthiness more and more. The first thing we try and do is to talk if we can, either to a friend or a family member, just to someone.”

He concluded with a message for the young people present at the funeral service. “I say this today in the hope that one day, especially our young people, if you ever do get into a dark place, whenever that may be, that you will have the strength and the courage to talk.”

People have been posting tributes to Conor on rip.ie:

Carmel, Liam, Sean, Siofra & Liam, we are thinking and praying for you all. We are devastated for you all. Conor will never be forgotten- his memories are now the treasures that will sustain you. We are so deeply sorry for your loss. Sending you love and praying that God will wrap his arms around you.

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Sincere condolences to Liam, Carmel, Sean, Liam and Síofra at this difficult time. Our thoughts at with you at this difficult time.

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Carmel and Liam, Sean, Síofra and Liam and the extended O’Loughlin and Keating families, there are no words to express how heartbroken we are for you all. May Conor’s soul rest in peace. Keeping you all in our thoughts now and during the tough times ahead.

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Sincere condolences to Carmel and family on their huge loss. May their gorgeous Conor rest in peace.

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Dear Carmel and family, I'm so sorry. I know there are no words for losing your lovely boy. My prayers and thoughts are with you. Catriona x

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Sincerest sympathies to Carmel, Liam and all the O’Loughlin family on the very sad loss of Conor. Thinking of you all at this difficult time. A young man taken far too soon. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

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Deepest sympathies to you and your extended families on the passing of dear Conor. I will cherish fond memories of him patiently attempting to teach me how to solve a Rubix cube during lunchtime. Thinking of you all at this incredibly difficult time. May Conor rest in peace.

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Treasured memories of Conor during the years he spent with us. Our heartfelt sympathy to Carmel, Liam, Sean, Siofra and Liam. May his gentle sole rest in peace.

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Dear Carmel, sincere condolences to you, Liam, Sean, Liam and Siofra on the devastating loss of your beautiful, strong, handsome boy. I am heartbroken for all of you. May God comfort you and give you strength to get through this terrible time. May Conor rest in peace.