The father of Brendan Óg 'Ógie' Duffy has opened up about the "overwhelming" support he and his family received in the wake of the GAA star's tragic passing last year.
The Monaghan Under-20 footballer was tragically killed in a car crash last year just hours after his side beat Donegal to progress to the Ulster Championship final.
Ómós d'Ógie is a new book, penned by his father Brendan Ó Dufaigh, filled with photographs, stories and articles about the late footballer.
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On Wednesday, Brendan joined OTB AM to discuss the bilingual book and Ógie's life with hosts Ger Gilroy and Shane Hannon.
He explained: "The children always spoke Irish to me and to the mum. They could change mid-sentence if they wanted to.
"In the context of Ógie and his death, I remember how I felt when I received texts and most of them were in the Irish language and they have a lot of meaning to me.
"There seems to be a depth that catches the emotion in the Irish language."
Brendan noted that the level of support he and his family received in the days after the tragic incident "got them through" the tough time.
One memory in particular he discussed was seeing the huge number of people lining the streets of Monaghan while Ógie's remains were being brought back from the morgue.
He told OTB: "We didn't know what was going to happen. I remember taking Ógie's body home from the morgue in Navan and on the outskirts of Castleblayney, everyone appeared to be out on the streets.
"The shops were closed, the Castleblayney Faughs teams from juvenile to senior level were out. That really took us by surprise and it struck me that it wasn't an ordinary funeral. We are only playing a part in it as others are as well.
"On that journey home, in my own area Cremartin they were out, as they were in Clontibret and Monaghan Harps.
"Nobody knew officially what time were taking Ógie's remains home - but nevertheless they were out there.
"As time has gone on, I appreciate the relevance and significance of that support more and more. It got us through those early days. It was overwhelming and it seemed to capture the national consciousness about his death."
Opening up about the night in question which took his life, Brendan admitted that the words of the local priest were huge.
"He shook me on the shoulder a few times and repeated 'Ogie has gone tonight. He has left us tonight'. It helped over the following few days - be it the coffin leaving the house or even the actual burial - I knew that he was already gone and accepted that from what Fr McGinn said to me. It did make it easier."
The family have framed the unwashed Monaghan jersey Ógie was wearing just hours before his death.
"After the match, we went for a takeaway on the way home. My younger daughter Aine got a voice message from him to get him a takeaway, she went back in and got him one and that takeaway remained on the table throughout the night," Brendan recalled.
"Certain moments like that - leaving the home to go to the match - there are certain things that get to me more than others."
The full interview with Brendan Ó Dufaigh can be accessed here.
Ómós d'Ógie is available in a number of bookshops in Monaghan.
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