Brave Matthew ‘left a lasting mark on us all’

Brave Matthew ‘left a lasting mark on us all’

13 August 2025

A MUCH-LOVED teacher at a Ballynahinch school, who died after a cancer battle, “had that rare magic to pull people in”, his funeral heard on Thursday.

Matthew Starkey passed away the previous Monday aged 32. 

Pupils from St Colman’s High School and Sixth Form College formed a guard of honour at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Carryduff.

Matthew’s father, Frank, paid tribute during the mass, telling mourners how his son “built a community around him – a network of friends, colleagues, students, neighbours and strangers who somehow, after meeting him once, couldn’t stay strangers for long”.

“He had that rare magic to pull people in and made them feel welcome, seen and included with his kindness, charm and a pint of Guinness in hand,” he said.

He also paid tribute to the Marie Curie Hospice staff who took care of Matthew in his final days.

“You are all living saints and words don’t do you justice, we can’t thank you enough,” he said.

Matthew spoke to the Down Recorder in April about his diagnosis with Stage 4 spinal cancer, after first realising something was wrong when he had a limp after playing football at the end of last year.

The Belfast man had set up TikTok and Instagram accounts documenting the highs and lows throughout his treatment journey, with the hopes of raising awareness.

At the time he hoped to take part in the Belfast Half Marathon in a wheelchair next month, and had raised over £48,000 for his ‘Fast and Tumorous’ fundraiser for the Friends of the Cancer Centre – a charity which supports thousands of people affected by cancer across Northern Ireland.

In June, Matthew married his fiancée, Carrie, who he described as the “woman of his dreams”.

Matthew’s family announced he had passed away surrounded by his loved ones at the Marie Curie Hospice.

Carrie and his mother, Fiona, both read a poem at the mass and his father read out a eulogy paying tribute to his son.

He described how Matthew was a “shy and quiet boy” when he was a child and “preferred to stay at the edge of the crowd”.

“From those hesitant beginnings emerged a man who would grow to become the absolute centre of attention – never for show or ego, but because people naturally gravitated towards him due to his warmth, his wit and his sincerity,” Frank said.

“We’ve heard from so many people over the past few months, from extended friendship circles we didn’t even know existed, and they all say the same thing – that Matthew was caring, thoughtful, uplifting and deeply, deeply loved.”

Mr Starkey spoke of how, from the moment Matthew met his wife Carrie, “she was the love of his life” and it was “clear they were perfect for each other”.

“In just four years they built a beautiful life filled with travel, laughter and deep, unwavering love,” he said.

“A young couple should never have to endure what they have but every step they took, they took together, whole-heartedly and with unwavering strength.”

Mr Starkey said his son faced his devastating cancer diagnosis the way he faced everything else in life – “with grace, courage and an incredible sense of humour”.

“He faced the most unfair fight with dignity, courage and humour,” he continued.

“He taught us more in the last few months than we ever taught him. It redefined what strength looks like.

“We all want to continue your legacy with love and pride, rest easy now, our beautiful boy.”

Mr Starkey described how his son’s passion for teaching was not just to educate his pupils, but to “connect, to inspire and to lift others up”.

“Teaching wasn’t just a job to him, it was where he poured his whole heart – he didn’t just teach lessons from a textbook, he taught empathy, he taught humour, he taught perspective and compassion,” he said.

“He became the type of teacher pupils remember forever.”

In his homily Canon Sean Rogan spoke of how the “role of teacher is a noble vocation”.

“To be a teacher is to impart knowledge and to guide and support young citizens,” he said.

St Colman’s High and Sixth Form College paid its tribute to Matthew, who taught ICT, Business Studies and PE.

A post on the school’s Facebook page last week read: “The entire St Colman’s community of pupils, staff, governors and parents mourns the loss of our esteemed teacher, colleague and friend, Mr Matthew Starkey.

“An absolute gentleman, loved by pupils and colleagues alike, we will remember Matthew for the inspirational role model that he was and the wide reach that he had across our whole school community.

“Matthew has left a lasting mark on us all and he will be sorely missed.

“Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with Matthew’s wife Carrie, his whole family and the wide network of friends that Matthew had.”