The devastated family of tragically killed Eoghan Byrne heard at his heartbreaking funeral that he was a “gentleman” who was “so happy in his final days” but has been “robbed of his future”.
Eoghan, 24, died when he was struck by a car in an alleged hit-and-run in Canada over two weeks ago.
The Trinity College graduate’s remains were brought home at the weekend after he was hit as he crossed a road in Vancouver at 11.24pm local time on June 19.
Read More: Young Irish hit-and-run victim Eoghan Byrne's remains due home tomorrow after Canada tragedy
His grief-stricken mum Mary and dad Eugene, sister Susan, and brother James led mourners today at St Patrick’s Church in Skerries, Co Dublin.
A childhood friend, Michael, who visited Eoghan in Vancouver a short while before the tragedy, told them from the altar that Eoghan was “so happy in his final days”.
Michael revealed “we had an amazing time together” and spoke of Eoghan’s hopes for the future, saying Eoghan was “a modest man”, but was “proud of his achievements”, such as his science degree from Trinity.
Eoghan moved to Vancouver eight months ago and began work for Stemcell Technologies in April and his family hoped to visit with him not long after the fatal collision.
Mourners held back tears after the hymn May The Roads Rise Up To Meet You was heard from Eoghan’s cousin Aine during Communion as his older sister Susan and younger brother James shared emotional tributes.
Susan said: “In just the eight months that [Eoghan] had been there [in Canada], he had curated a beautiful life, one that he and we are proud of.
“Thank you to every single person who shared a word or a pint with him, either here or there.”
She added: “The devastation that our family has felt since getting that fateful call two weeks ago today has been unbearable.
“Our world came crashing down and we cannot believe that Eoghan has been robbed of his future in this world.”
Susan paid tribute to Eoghan’s special friend Jill, who had developed a relationship with him in recent times in Canada.
She remembered how Eoghan volunteered to care for the sick and elderly in Lourdes and someone who embraced his role as big brother so enthusiastically that he drew a layout of the family home for younger brother James when he was born.
She also remembered how he got his nickname Goose, revealing that he was the first of his friends to pass his driving test, so he was the pilot who drove his friends around in his grandfather’s Toyota Corolla that they dubbed the F14.
She described him as “fiercely intelligent”, a “perfect brother”, her “first friend” and now “forever our hero”.
She praised Eoghan’s work ethic and recalled how he worked in Kildare on Covid testing even on Christmas Day during the height of the pandemic.
She said: “It was no surprise that he turned out to be the gentleman that he was.”
Eoghan’s mum, originally from Claremorris in Co Mayo, and dad, originally from Edenderry in Co Offaly, draped a baptismal shawl on his coffin with a copy of the bible, while friends placed poignant items on the altar to remember him.
Amongst the gifts were a family photo to represent his closeness to his family, who held him “as the apple of their eye”.
Also included were his Trinity degree; several vinyl records like Oasis and Fontaines DC album Skinty Fia; a skateboard, which he used to unwind after work; a globe, which represented his determination to see the world; and a model car, like that which he drove as a teenager when pals knew him affectionately by his nickname Goose.
Parish Priest Fr Melvyn Mullins told the mourners that they were there at “this dreadfully tragic and sad time” to remember Eoghan’s “journey of life”.
He acknowledged they were in a “sense of disbelief” and were asking if this tragedy “really happened”.
He said: “As we remember Eoghan, or Goose as he was known, we will always remember him in our hearts and carry him with us in our lives.”
He described Eoghan as “wise beyond his years”, a lover of art, politics, science and his friends and family.
He said Eoghan had a tremendous passion for his life and used it to touch those he knew “in his short life”.
He added that “in an instant, all that has changed”.
Police in Vancouver arrested and released two men after Eoghan’s death and are still investigating the fatality.
Witnesses described the noise from the collision as a “loud bang” and the force of it like a “car hitting a building”.
The collision was recorded by CCTV footage camera and shows Eoghan’s body flying across the road, nearly 100 metres from the crash site.
Police said Eoghan was walking close to his home when he was struck and killed near West 4th Avenue and Arbutus Street.
They said it was a grey sedan that was allegedly “travelling at high speed” and the driver did not stop and Eoghan died at the scene.
The car was later found abandoned.
A book of condolences was opened for Eoghan at the Consulate General of Ireland in Vancouver over the weekend.
Eoghan was buried today at Baldungan Cemetery in Skerries.
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