The Late Kieran Cahillane Family, friends, sports people, young and old, gathered in their hundreds to say farewell to young Kieran Cahillane, the 19 year old Pinewood Estate man who died tragically in a drowning accident in Killarney. The esteem in which the popular man was held manifested itself through huge crowds of mourners that attended his removal from O'Shea's and again at the funeral Mass in the Cathedral. Among them, many who were close to the Dr Crokes stalwart and talented soccer player searched painfully for explanations and answers to the tragedy that shocked the entire town and far beyond. The past week has proved to be an enormously difficult time for his family and close friends, including those who were with Kieran early on Sunday morning when they went for a swim at the Range lake after attending a party. Whithin a short time, the youthful escapade had turned into an underwater search that eventually ended in the discover of Kieran's body just a short distance from the shoreline. The Crokes GAA Club and Killarney Athletic FC showed their appreciation for an exceptionally talented player and true friend. At both the beginning and the funeral Mass, they formed guards of honour as a token of their grieving respect. At the beginning of Thursday morning's funeral Mass in the Cathedral, family members brought gifts to the altar that symbolised Kieran's passions in life - his brother James brought a Crokes jersey and gear bag, his other brother Jason brought a football, his sister Marie brought a photo of the winning Crokes minor team from two years ago which Kieran captained and Teresa, his older sister brought a valued Killarney Athletic trophy. St John's Gospel told of Jesus's meeting with Martha when he discovered that his close friend, Lazarus, had been lying in tome for four days. The Gospel told the congregation how Jesus defied death by raising his friend Lazarus from the dead and turning to Mary and Martha saying: "I an the resurrection and the light he who believes in me will never die." In his homily, Fr Teddy Lenihan likened death to a light going out in a house, where everything becomes engulfed in darkness and where confusion reigns. "Last Sunday morning, the entire community was plunged into darkness at the news of Kieran's sudden death, " Fr Lenihan said. But he consoled Kieran's family and the congregation by reminding them of the short but full life that Kieran had lived. He was a young man baptised and educated in Killarney, an apprentice electrician and a young athlete who excelled at sport. Kieran Cahillane wold have turned 20 on August 24. He had been saving to buy his first car, and though never out of the country before, was planning to travel to Budapest in October. His passport was due to arrive a few short days after his death. "Jesus also died a young man," Fr Lenihan said. "Had he lived, would he not have performed more miracles, preached more and recruited many more apostles? Why then he die young, we ask?" Fr Lenihan said. But he explained at the cathedral that God does not measure life in years or months or weeks. St Paul tells us that life here is not permanent and that it is just life a temporary stay in a tent. "Kieran will never grow old in our memories," Fr Lenihan said. "He will always be 19 years old." Kieran's remains were shouldered from the Cathedral to outside of the church where again hundreds of sympathisers met the family before he was taken to his eternal resting place. Courtesy of The Kerryman 18th August 2005 Tweet

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