'We love you both always and forever' - Friends of Luke and Grace McSweeney recall happy memories

A number of Luke and Grace McSweeney's loved ones read eulogies at their funeral mass, which took place earlier today (September 1). 

Several of the late siblings' family and friends stood up at St Peter and Paul's Church to recall the many happy memories they shared over the years. 

Luke was described as a great man with "a larger than life personality" and a knack for bringing people together. 

Friends spoke of his carefree and infectious easy-going manner, his big heart and his love of Ireland and Clonmel. 

One friend said, "Luke didn't just have one friend group, he was an essential part of so many around town; primary school, secondary school and college friends, gym friends, dart friends, poker friends, gaming friends, I could go on forever. 

He said, "It's so clear that lots of people here today wouldn't have crossed paths if not for Luke." 

"Fifteen minutes with Luke felt like golden time. He was a big man, a big personality, and a big presence and he'd have told you that himself. 

"But most of all he had a big heart. 

"And now as we say goodbye, let's keep Luke in our hearts where he will forever remain a force of nature that will never be replicated." 

He finished his eulogy with a seanfhocal meaning 'They are not gone from us but ahead of us'.   

Another friend said, "Luke was a great man, any time you were with him there was a certain energy." 

He described his friend as "extremely passionate" about many things over the course of his life. 

He said, "Luke was a professional gamer, a shark at the poker table, a striker on a football pitch and, as he would say, the most muscular man in Clonmel.

"But what I think he was most passionate about was his ability to bring people together. 

"For me, Luke was a best friend, a partner in crime and someone who inspired me to be a more confident, better version of myself and I'll never forget the impact he had on my life." 

He recalled Luke's "weird and wonderful" fascinations. 

He said, "Recently he became more and more in touch with his spiritual side. [You'd] catch him bathing in the stream and walking barefoot in the grass to immerse himself with nature." 

He said, "For most people, when they hear that the President of Ireland was at your friend's funeral it would be a surprise, but when all of Luke's friends found out they thought 'Only Luke'.

"Luke would be delighted to see you." 

He also spoke on behalf of Luke's girlfriend, Kelly: "She says goodbye for now, my forever best friend." 

Other friends recalled touching and funny moments of growing up frequenting the McSweeney household for "endless games of tag rugby" and nerf gun wars.

One friend said, "Grace always managed to nab the best gun."

He remembered how Grace would do "flips and spins that most wouldn't dream of" and always offered tea and platters of food to visitors. 

He said, "Up until last week, Grace would be seen riding round on her scooter. To me, this symbolises her free spirit. She was a kid at heart always. She never wanted to grow old, the way it should be.

"So Grace, on behalf of all Luke's friends, we wanted to say thank you for the laughs, for your kindness.

"You'll have to look after Luke up there because he won't be able to look after himself. 

"We love you both always and forever." 

MMA star Conor McGregor also said a few words in a recording played on the altar. 

He said, "Just wanted to send condolences to Luke and his family. Rest in peace Luke. I heard many great things about you, you're a good man and it's very hard hearing this now. Well wishes and condolences to the family, God bless." 

The Deputy Principal of Presentation Secondary School also said a few words on Grace, calling it "an honour and privilege" to be part of Grace's life for six years. 

She said, "It occurred to me over the last few days that when Paul and Bridget picked a name for their daughter, they couldn't have picked a more appropriate name. 

"The little girl who grew into a young woman was the epitome of grace." 

"She was a talented dancer, so graceful and elegant with musicality that was wonderful to watch. I'm sure her fellow dancers found it wonderful to share the stage with her. 

"She was an extraordinary gymnast and on more than one occasion made the school gasp as she catapulted herself through the air at one of our school concerts. 

"Despite her talents, she was not an exhibitionist. Quite the opposite. She walked the school corridors as if she was just another girl without the ability to back flip everywhere." 

She also praised Grace's ability to share her talents with younger people. 

She said, "Each child admired her and I'm sure will aspire to be just like her. 

"Her gymnastics coach, Karen, truly believed she will watch over her forever, forever their ring leader." 

She continued: "When I speak of the grace she possessed, I don't just mean her sporting prowess, but the grace she carried inside." 

"Grace was above all else sincere. 

"When she was friendly and polite, which she always was, it was with sincerity. When happy and fun, it was with sincerity. When troubled or worried, it was with unselfishness and above all sincerity. And she brought this sincerity and loyalty to all her relationships, in particular her friendship with Zoey, which was very very special. 

"Zoey was her rock, her confidante, her partner in crime and her best friend.

"They will remain together forever now in heaven and in our hearts." 

She described Grace as "a credit to her wonderful close knit family". 

She continued: "She may not have said it often enough, because none of us do, but she loved them and was proud to be a McSweeney. 

"She adored her brothers with a protective love only a sister can feel. 

"Luke and Grace are together forever in heaven now and in our hearts." 

She concluded: "I speak on behalf of all staff at Presentation when I say thank you to Paul and Bridget for choosing to send their beautiful daughter to our school. 

"I conclude with the theme chosen by Grace and her classmates for graduation in May when all their lives were filled with endless possibility: 'I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you actually left them'."