By Naomi Hamilton O’Donnell
TEENAGER Josh Morrow has been remembered as a kind, talented person who brought out the best in everyone around him.
Josh (16) of Stranabrattoge, Cloghan, was tragically killed after the motorbike he was riding collided with a car on the R252 at Cloghan on Saturday.
His funeral service took place today at The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Glenfin.
It was led by Reverend Johnny Lowden, Rector of the Stranorlar, Meenglass & Kilteevogue Group of Parishes in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Raphoe.
He was accompanied by Glenfin parish priest Fr Lorcan Sharkey, Glenties parish priest Fr Gerard Cunningham, Ardara parish priest Fr Aodhan Cannon and Stranorlar curate Fr Vincent Finnegan OFM.
A fifth year student of Finn Valley College in Stranorlar, Josh was a talented sportsman, playing for Glenfin GAA and Finn Valley Rugby Club.
He was also part of the Ulster U-18 rugby squad last year, one of his many achievements that brought great pride to Josh’s parents Elma and Jerry.
A number of guards of honour formed by former team-mates, club colleagues and school pals, stood as the cortege made its way to the church.
The late Josh Morrow.
The cortege passed Glenfin GAA’s club grounds – Pairc Taobhoige – where players and club members joined on the walk to the church.
Two rails of colourful sports jerseys were displayed towards the front of the church during the service, reflecting Josh’s bright personality and natural flair on the pitch.
A friend and classmate read the poem ‘Immortality’ by Clare Harner, before sharing a moving tribute on behalf of Finn Valley College in the first reading.
“Josh was always funny, he was always up for a laugh,” he said.
The pupil shared how Josh helped him make more friends, and that Josh will always live on in the hearts of the school community.
“Josh just brought the best out in every single one of us,” he said.
Another classmate, Sarah, read the psalm before the Gospel was read by Rev Lowden.
Josh’s mother Elma then addressed mourners with stories of Josh’s youth, when his sense of humour and kind personality became clear from an early age.
Born on the first day of 2010, Josh always made Elma proud, even down to saying his name.
“Me and Josh were a team,” she said. “We went up to Magherafelt every week for his training, twice every week during the summer.
“We laughed, we fought, we cried, we listened to music, and we had many’s a conversation.”
In his homily, Rev Lowden offered his deepest sympathies to mourners, and acknowledged that sudden tragedies can leave behind a trail of unanswered questions.
“All that we can do is place ourselves into the hands of the Good Shepherd,” he said.
“It’s a great shame that I never had the chance to get to know Josh, but speaking to friends and family over the last few days, it was immediately clear how much he meant to so many people. It was immediately clear just how special Josh was.”
Alluding to Josh’s natural competitive spirit, Rev Lowden said that Josh always managed to be the first to blow out the candles on a birthday cake, “no matter whose birthday it happened to be”.
Rev Lowden said Josh “possessed a rare talent” for rugby, as well as being “a joker, a hard worker, kind and caring”.
“Above all else, Josh was a loyal friend to so many people, and the heart and soul of a loving and caring family,” he said.
Rev Lowden told mourners to support and love one another in the wake of the tragedy.
In his address, Fr Sharkey also gave praise to Josh’s “wonderful talent and skill”.
He recognised the grief of the mourners, and said that their “pain matters”.
Fr Sharkey told young mourners to “hold firmly” to their memories of Josh.
“Love never ends, it just changes shape,” he said.
On the request of Josh’s family, boxes were placed inside the church during the service for donations towards the Oncology Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital.
After the service, Josh was laid to rest in Cill Mhuire Cemetery.
Josh is deeply regretted and sadly missed by his heartbroken parents, Elma and Jerry, sister, Sarah, brothers, Matthew, Shane (Michelle), Jason (Shannon), niece Sofia, granny and granddad, Dolores and Jim Thompson, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and wider community.