Eric Byrne touched the hearts of all who knew him in the most positive way

Mourners who gathered for the funeral of Eric Byrne heard that he touched everyone’s hearts since his arrival from Russia at the age of three. 

At Thursday’s Funeral Mass in St Cartha’s Church, Kilcar, Fr Willie Peoples began by saying: “I would like to offer sympathy to Eric’s mother and father Paul and Rose, to his brother Cian, extended family, friends, parishioners, everybody gathered here; we gather to honour him.

“I extend a special welcome to Fr Shay Casey from Athlone who is chaplain to the university there. 

“He spoke very kindly of Eric and the many hearts that Eric would have touched. 

“It is an amazing thing, his name comes across over and over again as having affected people in a very positive way.

“That goes from his childhood right on through now, as Cian does, as we all are expected to do, to touch each other with goodness.”

News of Eric’s untimely passing rocked the Kilcar community. 

On Saturday, March 11, the 22-year-old became the subject of a missing person appeal. At around 7.30am on Sunday morning, the tragic news came through that Eric’s remains had been located.

Fr Peoples recalled the moment when he himself heard what had happened.

“It was a moment that we didn’t think would happen, and a family, a parish, are broken-hearted,” he said. 

“You get phone calls and you never know what they are about. I got the phone call from Rose just days ago to tell me about Eric’s passing and it really puts a darkness over any of us because the world is better off with young people in it and it certainly was better off with Eric Byrne.”

The celebrant reminded mourners that Eric was born in Slantsy, Russia. His parents went to Petersburg to bring him home when he was three years old.

Fr Peoples said: “He came, I suppose you could say, maybe in his little heart and mind, to a foreign land that he would take on as his own, and become an Irishman. That is exactly who Eric was. 

“He would have learned English pretty quickly as children do, and his life would stretch forward in front of him.

“He went to his local national school and to Carrick Vocational.”

The priest said that Eric enjoyed the basic things in life, as is the way with children.

“He was also a member of the Donegal Youth Council and represented the council in Amsterdam, would have met a bit of royalty in Donegal Town in his time, so he had a lot of experiences,” continued Fr Peoples.

“He was a community helper from delivering the envelopes to serving on the altar, and a frequent church visitor. 

“Eric was a trier, and he was gifted.”

He had been serving an apprenticeship in Butlersbridge, Co Cavan, where, mourners were told, Eric was made to feel very welcome. 

Fr Peoples thanked everyone who had taken part in the service, and he acknowledged in particular an original composition by a friend of Eric’s which was performed during the service. 

A spokesperson for the family recalled the joy that Eric had brought to them all, how he had touched the hearts of all who knew him. 

Thanks were conveyed to everyone who had assisted in the search for Eric and to those who had supported the family through the last few difficult days. 

Following the Mass, Eric was laid to rest in the local cemetery.