The funeral Mass of a teen who tragically died after a tractor overturned has been remembered as “a lovable, adorable, kind, warm, witty, friendly and cheerful young man,” who could “charm the socks off everyone he met.”
Kyle Pilbrow, 13, was the driver and sole occupant of the tractor which overturned on the L1610 road at Scarduane near Claremorris in Mayo last Saturday, May 20.
He was treated at the scene for serious injuries and removed to Galway University Hospital and subsequently transferred to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin where he sadly passed away.
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Kyle, a first year student at St Colman’s College, Claremorris was “someone you never forgot once you met him,” his funeral Mass heard.
Chief mourners at the funeral Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Roundfort included his heartbroken parents Janny and Lisa, brothers Morgan, Alex and Ethan, grandparents Seamus and Veronica Nevin and Renate Pilbrow, extended family, friends and neighbours.
In a heartfelt eulogy, Fr Michael Murphy, parish priest of Roundfort, Robeen and Carras Parish, told mourners “We have lost a lovable, adorable, kind, warm, witty, friendly, and cheerful young man.”
“If you met Kyle once you certainly didn’t forget him,” said Fr Murphy. “Kyle was first of all his own person, his own self. He didn’t pretend to be anyone else. Just a lovely charming young lad that God created him to be.”
“And boy could he charm you,” continued Fr Murphy, adding that it didn't matter if you were one of his friends or a person on the street, a young girl at a disco or in town on a Saturday, or a stranger passing by, Kyle could charm the socks off everyone he met.
“He had a lovely sense of fun and enjoyed wrapping people around his finger. He had an old head on young shoulders,” said Fr Murphy, adding that Kyle had a way of disarming people with a cup of tea.
Fr Murphy said Kyle preferred to sit with his mum Lisa and her friends “to join them for a cup of tea rather than go out and play football with the lads.”
“He loved nothing more than listening in to all the chat and getting all the gossip of the week.
"He just loved people, loved being with them, listening to their stories and having a bit of fun with them.
“It didn’t matter if you were 90 or 3, he just loved the company,” said Fr Murphy.
Fr Murphy said Kyle was an entrepreneur - “any kind of scheme that made money he was into - from selling Christmas logs with candles to a car and tractor valet service and more recently dog training.
“He loved the money but he preferred spending mam and dad’s money than his own,” said Fr Murphy.
Poignantly and heartbreaking, Fr Murphy read Kyle’s own words he wrote last year, when he was graduating from Sixth Class, where he envisioned what his future would be like.
“In ten years time I’ll be 22 and then I would like to either have my own mechanic shop or be in college. I would love to have a Nissan GTR and a lovely wife. I would also like a project car, preferably a Nissan Micra.
“I would like to thank all the staff here who helped me learn and grow throughout the years. I would like to thank our secretary Deirdre, our caretaker Gerry and our teachers.”
A photo of a smiling Kyle, wearing his Garrymore GAA jersey, was placed on his coffin. Fr Murphy told mourners that Kyle’s last game with Garrymore GAA was his final game - just days before his tragic death.
“It was his greatest day on the field as he scored six points from play,” said Fr Murphy.
Among the symbols brought to the altar to represent Kyle’s life included his Garrymore jersey showing his passion for football; a photo of Kyle with his friends symbolising all the great friendships he had and all the memories he made; a steering wheel showing his love for cars; a guitar representing his love of music and fun; a hat and caravan showing his sense of style and adventure and loved family holidays; a family photo representing the love and joy Kyle brought to his family and his mug symbolising his love for a cup of tea or who shared a cup of tea with him as he loved the chat.
Following the funeral Mass, Kyle was laid to rest in Roundfort Cemetery.
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