FAMILY'S DIGNITY BOMBERS EVIL
Hundreds mourn as GAA player buried
By Jim Fitzpatrick
THE NUMBER 7 jersey will not be worn again by anyone in Tattyreagh Gaelic Football Club this year.
The boy who wore that jersey with pride was buried yesterday - Gareth Conway (18) from Carrickmore.
Club manager Niall Darcy told mourners at Gareth's funeral in St Colmcille's Church how the young lad lying in the coffin before him, red and black jersey draped on top, came to play left half-back for the club. He said Gareth began to stand out "like a beacon" when he joined the minor panel at the beginning of the league campaign.
Mr Darcy said Gareth possessed qualities of dedication honesty and self-reliance. He showed "tremendous loyalty" to teammates and a desire to never let them down.
"The qualities of honesty, determination, concern and respect for others and loyalty to his friends made Gareth a very special young man for which his family can be proud," he said.
Mr Darcy revealed that 34 club players met spontaneously on Monday evening to discuss how to honour Gareth.
"I was there and I will never forget the look of despair, shock and bewilderment on the faces of these players as they reflected on Gareth and their own personal loss", he said.
Curate Fr Sean Heggarty said both funeral masses. He described the bomb as an act of "horrendous evil".
"It was like the electricity of our lives had suddenly and unexpectedly be switched off," he said.
The new parish priest Monsignor Denis Faul sat in silence behind. He took up his appointment on the day of the bombing.
Readings at the mass were given by Gareth's brothers Tom and Ryan - the strain proving almost too much for a distraught Tom.
His sisters Marita and Michella sang a moving tribute and Michella read a poem dedicated to her dead brother.
She read carefully: "His soul is in peace - a brother, a child, a friend. You reached a bitter end, give us strength from beyond the grave to accept our loss".
Bishop Gerard Clifford, auxiliary bishop of Armagh, said the bombers spoke for no-one and had no backing for their evil deed.
The offerings brought forward during the mass included an exact replica of St Colmcille's Church, which had been painstakingly crafted by Gareth. Fr Heggarty said this spoke volumes about Gareth's dedication to his church.
A boy - described by all as quiet, resourceful and honest - who lived for his football. He was murdered in Omagh last Saturday as he went to buy a pair of contact lenses.
Gareth's funeral was attended by several hundred mourners, including local Sinn Fein assemblymen John Kelly and Francie Molloy, along with Ulster Unionist assemblyman Dermott Nesbitt. Jack Boothman, former president of the GAA, also attended.
Gareth was looking forward to starting his studies at Magee College next month. But yesterday his father Michael and brothers Tom, Ryan and Des carried his coffin with mother Marie and sisters Marita, Michella and Shauneen walking behind. The dignity of their procession was in marked contrast to the evil mayhem of Saturday.
His friends from Tattyreagh GFC formed a guard of honour to wish him farewell. He was laid to rest in St Mary's Cemetery Loughmacrory.
By Jim Fitzpatrick
THE NUMBER 7 jersey will not be worn again by anyone in Tattyreagh Gaelic Football Club this year.
The boy who wore that jersey with pride was buried yesterday - Gareth Conway (18) from Carrickmore.
Club manager Niall Darcy told mourners at Gareth's funeral in St Colmcille's Church how the young lad lying in the coffin before him, red and black jersey draped on top, came to play left half-back for the club. He said Gareth began to stand out "like a beacon" when he joined the minor panel at the beginning of the league campaign.
Mr Darcy said Gareth possessed qualities of dedication honesty and self-reliance. He showed "tremendous loyalty" to teammates and a desire to never let them down.
"The qualities of honesty, determination, concern and respect for others and loyalty to his friends made Gareth a very special young man for which his family can be proud," he said.
Mr Darcy revealed that 34 club players met spontaneously on Monday evening to discuss how to honour Gareth.
"I was there and I will never forget the look of despair, shock and bewilderment on the faces of these players as they reflected on Gareth and their own personal loss", he said.
Curate Fr Sean Heggarty said both funeral masses. He described the bomb as an act of "horrendous evil".
"It was like the electricity of our lives had suddenly and unexpectedly be switched off," he said.
The new parish priest Monsignor Denis Faul sat in silence behind. He took up his appointment on the day of the bombing.
Readings at the mass were given by Gareth's brothers Tom and Ryan - the strain proving almost too much for a distraught Tom.
His sisters Marita and Michella sang a moving tribute and Michella read a poem dedicated to her dead brother.
She read carefully: "His soul is in peace - a brother, a child, a friend. You reached a bitter end, give us strength from beyond the grave to accept our loss".
Bishop Gerard Clifford, auxiliary bishop of Armagh, said the bombers spoke for no-one and had no backing for their evil deed.
The offerings brought forward during the mass included an exact replica of St Colmcille's Church, which had been painstakingly crafted by Gareth. Fr Heggarty said this spoke volumes about Gareth's dedication to his church.
A boy - described by all as quiet, resourceful and honest - who lived for his football. He was murdered in Omagh last Saturday as he went to buy a pair of contact lenses.
Gareth's funeral was attended by several hundred mourners, including local Sinn Fein assemblymen John Kelly and Francie Molloy, along with Ulster Unionist assemblyman Dermott Nesbitt. Jack Boothman, former president of the GAA, also attended.
Gareth was looking forward to starting his studies at Magee College next month. But yesterday his father Michael and brothers Tom, Ryan and Des carried his coffin with mother Marie and sisters Marita, Michella and Shauneen walking behind. The dignity of their procession was in marked contrast to the evil mayhem of Saturday.
His friends from Tattyreagh GFC formed a guard of honour to wish him farewell. He was laid to rest in St Mary's Cemetery Loughmacrory.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0112
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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