The death of thirty one year old David Finnerty, Cloonkeenkerrill, Colemanstown following a freak car accident late on Tuesday night, June 2nd, was the source of grief and sadness for his family and friends and the entire community. This was reflected in the large attendances to his home until his remains were taken to St Michael’s Church, Gurteen for a most beautiful and touching funeral mass. David, or ‘Dinky’ as he was well known, was a very popular young man with his peers, full of devilment but yet kind, gentle and full of life. His remains reposed at the home of his parents where sympathisers were bussed from Gurteen and Colemanstown to pay their respect and on Saturday morning he was removed to St Michael’s Church Gurteen for concelebrated mass of the resurrection which was packed to capacity both inside and outside while external loudspeakers were set up to assist those who couldn’t get near the Church. His funeral mass was also transmitted on the Parish radio. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated by chief celebrant Fr. Michael Byrnes, Galway who was a personal friend of David and his beloved Corina through the Patrician musical society in Galway with co-celebrants Fr. Raymond Sweeney, Gurteen, Fr. Brendan Dunning, SMA, Claregalway, Fr. Gerry Sweeney, SMA, Claregalway, Fr. Padraig O’Connor, Mountbellew, Fr. Tom Beirne, Newbridge and Fr. John O ‘Gorman, Menlough.
Fr. Byrnes gave a moving homily on the sadness bestowed on the entire community on the suddenness of David’s passing. He described David as a smiling lad, full of fun, loved the craic with his friends and always gave his time effortlessly and lent a hand whenever required. He paid tribute to the huge role Corina played in his life in their time together. His younger brother Brendan gave an emotional eulogy and spoke of some of David’s antics with his friends, his love for Corina which first kindled during their secondary school days and the assistance he received from his older brother during the course of his college years. Brendan summarised David’s motto in life: If you obey the rules, you miss out on all the fun. An aphorism that sums up a man that lived life to the full.
Amongst those symbols offered to the altar to represent his life were a rally jacket to represent his love for motor sports, a framed picture of David with his many friends, a photo book of family pictures, his toolkit to symbolise his great carpentry skills and a DVD of the school play in which David played the main role in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ in his leaving cert year. On behalf of the family Fr. Sweeney thanked all those who showed a great tsunami of love towards the family in every way possible since the accident. Members of Colemanstown soccer club amongst many others formed a guard of honour for the last mile of his journey to his final resting place. His burial took place in Cloonkeenkerrill Cemetery where his uncle PJ recited ‘Gone from my Sight’ by his graveside.
He is survived by his heartbroken mother and father, Pauline and Martin, sister Sarah, brother Brendan, girlfriend Corina, grandmother, uncles, aunts, cousins, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. The events planned for the 22nd annual St. Kerrill’s festival scheduled to take place during the weekend and in the coming weeks were cancelled as a mark of respect to the Finnerty family. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
