Teacher killed in tragic crash remembered as someone who "spread joy and laughter everywhere he went"
In a reflection at the funeral of James McNieve, 28 in Knock, Co. Mayo, Michael, one of his brothers, said James brought his sense of fun into the primary school classrooms where he worked
A young footballer and primary teacher who lost his life in an early morning traffic accident in Co. Sligo last Sunday was recalled at his funeral on Saturday as someone who “always spread joy and laughter everywhere he went”.
In a reflection at the funeral of James McNieve, 28 in Knock, Co. Mayo, Michael, one of his brothers, said James brought his sense of fun into the primary school classrooms where he worked.
Michael explained that James had met his girlfriend, Catherine, while working at Glasnevin National School. He thanked Catherine for “filling the last three years of James’s life with love”. He also expressed gratitude to Catherine’s parents, “who treated him like one of the family from day one up in Donegal”.
READ MORE: Motorcyclist in his 30s dies following horror collision in Longford
James McNieve died in the early hours of Sunday last (August 4) when his van collided with a lorry on the N15 at Urlar, Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo. He had been returning from visiting Catherine and her family at their Donegal home.
In his eulogy at the funeral mass in Knock Parish Church, Michael McNieve told Catherine and members of her family that “it was a great comfort (to the McNieve family) that the last few days of his life were spent enjoying their company and the last familiar face he saw before his passing was the woman he loved”.
Amongst the guards of honour at the funeral were members of the Aghamore and Eastern Gaels GAA Clubs, whom James represented as a player over the years.
Fr. Richard Gibbons, the main celebrant, welcomed to the funeral mass James’s mother, Bernadette, his sister, Fiona, brothers, Michael, Matthew and Peter and his girlfriend, Catherine, as well as members of his extended family and teammates, schoolmates and college friends.
He added: “We are here in prayer and solidarity with one another in which has been a week, a long week, a long, sad week for Bernadette and family. Our parish has had to suffer a number of tragedies recently that has left us almost bereft with grief.
“It’s difficult to imagine yet another young person’s life taken from us, long before his time, taken from family, taken from parish life and from his teammates.”
Gifts brought to the altar included James’s guitar, symbolising his love of music, Aghamore and Eastern Gaels GAA Club jerseys, teams with whom he has played, a school copybook and framed photographs to illustrate his love of family and his girlfriend, Catherine.
James' burial took place in Knock Cemetery after the funeral mass.
Sign up to the Irish Mirror's daily newsletter here and get breaking news and top stories direct to your inbox.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
