Funeral takes place of the late Rocco McGinley: 'He would not and did not give up'

The funeral of brave teenager Rocco McGinley has taken place in Buncrana.

The teenager passed away after a battle with a rare brain tumour on Tuesday morning surrounded by his family. He had been diagnosed with an extremely rare type of life-threatening brain tumour in October 2021. 

The third-year student at Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana was treated in Letterkenny University Hospital, and in Dublin at Crumlin Children's Hospital, Temple Street Children's University Hospital and St Luke’s Hospital.

Rocco's funeral cortege was led by a convoy of rally cars from his home to St Mary's Oratory where it was greeted by a guard of honour made up of local schoolchildren.

His coffin was carried into the church by members of the Defence Forces, of which his brother Jordan is a member, and the Mass was concelebrated by Fr Jerry Carroll, the chaplain at Finner Camp.

Gifts brought to the altar in his memory included medals belonging to Rocco, a bottle of his favourite aftershave, his phone which he used to keep in touch with family and friends, and a US flag given to him by the couple who he stayed with in Houston when undergoing treatment.

Speaking to packed St Mary's Oratory, Fr Bradley told parishioners that Rocco "would not and did not give up" in his battle with his tumour.

"Fear never appears to have found a home" with Rocco, Fr Bradley said.

He is survived by his parents Yvonne and Wade, his siblings Warren, Jordan, Dean, Cooper, Winter Lily, Arya and Bodhi and his grandparents Carl and Anna McGinley and Mary Hegarty and his extended family.

His funeral took place this morning in St Mary's Oratory, Buncrana before he was laid to rest in Cockhill Cemetery.

See Wednesday's Inish Times for more