Tearful brother of Mayo man tells funeral he 'decided to seek a thrill' before tragic death in New Zealand

On December 14, a hot summer's day in Hamilton, New Zealand, a young Mayo man lost his life when he and a group of friends went swimming in the local Waikato River, his funeral mass was told on Wednesday afternoon.

Holding back tears, Padraig Togher, brother of the late Peadar Togher, 27, delivered a heartfelt eulogy to his younger sibling in a packed St. Brendan’s Church on the Erris Peninsula near Belmullet.

Padraig explained that in mid-December, Peadar had just completed work on a tree planting project and was looking forward to spending Christmas with his other brother John’s family in New Zealand prior to setting off on his next adventure.

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Explaining how the tragedy unfolded, Mr. Togher explained how Peadar, on a hot summer's day, along with friends, “decided to seek a thrill“ and entered the river. He went on to describe his brother, a multimedia designer, as a “kind, caring, extremely open-minded, fun, person who could have a chat with anyone”.

Fr. Kevin Hegarty, chief celebrant of the funeral mass on Wednesday, told mourners that before Christmas, Calvary came to the parish of Kilmore-Erris and planted its Cross at the home of Peadar’s parents, Patrick and Margaret. In mid-December, the phone call came to Patrick and Margaret that every parent who has a son or daughter abroad dreads.

“Departure leaves parents with mixed feelings”, Fr. Hegarty outlined. “They wish to give their sons and daughters freedom to explore but there is always that chimera of apprehension about their safety.”

Consoling Patrick and Margaret and their other sons, John, Michael and Padraig, Fr. Hegarty said: ”I have a sense that in the darkness of your grief, the knowledge that Peadar lived a wonderful, though short, life would sustain them."

He added that Peadar came across to him as caring, kind, talented and vivacious and said he had left an indelible mark on all those who knew him.

“He loved life and lived it to the full. He had a wonderful openness to the wonders of life and had a great capacity for friendship. That is part of his legacy.”

Following concelebrated requiem mass on Wednesday afternoon, Peadar was laid to rest in Emlybeg Cemetery.

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