Fond tributes paid to road victim Conall

Fond tributes paid to road victim Conall

26 April 2017

THE principal of St Patrick’s Grammar School has paid a heartfelt tribute to pupil Conall O’Hare who tragically lost his life in a car accident last week.

Sean Sloan said the school was “proud to call Conall one of us” and that they had been left “shocked and numbed” following his death.

The Castlewellan teenager died just days after his 18th birthday in a one-vehicle collision on the Ballydugan Road outside Downpatrick last Tuesday night. He was laid to rest at St Patrick’s Church, Bryansford on Saturday and among the hundreds of mourners were students from his school who formed a guard of honour.

On Monday students returned to school for a new term, where extended form tutorials and a special gathering of year 14 students was held to help pupils come to terms with the tragedy.

“As a school we are shocked and numbed,” said Mr Sloan.

“In the same way that his family were so proud of Conall, as a son, a brother, a grandson and nephew, we are proud to call Conall one of us, A Red High student. 

“He was a humble but determined young man, loyal to his many friends built up through his years in primary and post-primary school and never in bother. He respected those around him and had a warm personality enjoying the craic.”

Mr Sloan said Conall would be particularly remembered for his willingness to help others.

“While he was determined to do well in his A-levels he also looked to support others, for example, helping students with GCSE maths work in preparation for their upcoming exams,” he said. “Conall had also volunteered each Wednesday morning to assist children in St Colmcille’s Primary School in Downpatrick with numeracy. 

“He is remembered fondly during a school trip to Paris in 2013. Even as a junior student he was a real leader, taking responsibility, always offering to help, particularly with the younger students and he helped make the trip a great experience for everybody.

“While we will not now get to share with Conall, the joy of seeing him opening his A-level results and moving on to university, we are left with nothing but fond memories of his time with us at St Patrick’s.

“On behalf of our school community, I offer our most heartfelt condolences to the entire family circle, especially his mum Linda, our former colleague, and his many friends, at this heartbreaking time.”

For St Patrick’s Grammar School it was another young life to mourn, with Conall’s death coming two weeks after an accident claimed the life of former student Christopher Martin from Crossgar, and less than three years after past pupil Jack Murnin (20) tragically died in a three-car collision.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Conall’s aunt, Nora McMahon, described him as a “lovely, helpful, thoughtful and caring” young man who was hoping to go to Queen’s University to study economics and business studies in September.

“Conall was the most perfect nephew, he was a great young fella who was family-orientated,” she told the Belfast Telegraph.

“Everything was going well for him. He was doing his A-levels. He was very intelligent, he was hoping to go to Queen’s and he wanted to get three As. He had talked to me about going to university several times.

“He was very excited as he wanted to be an accountant and he was planning to move up to Belfast. It would have been his first time away from home.

“He had played for Newcastle Football Club’s junior team for 10 years but when he started his A-levels he decided to focus on them instead, he was very focused and responsible. He was all chuffed as he had been offered a job in Subway to save up for university.”

SDLP MLA Colin McGrath was among those offering condolences to Conall’s family and St Patrick’s Grammar School.

“The news of Conall’s death is absolutely tragic, and I’d like to offer my sympathies to his family, as I do also to the family of young Christopher who died earlier this month, and Jack who died a few years ago,” said Mr McGrath.

“All three young men having attended St Patrick’s, my former school, is very upsetting for the pupils and staff there and for everyone in the community.”

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie also described Conall’s death as a “profound tragedy that has shocked the local community”.

Local Sinn Féin councillor Willie Clarke said: “It is heartbreaking for someone so young to lose his life in a car crash just days after his 18th birthday.

“Any death on our roads is one too many and a tragedy for all those involved. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young man who has died at this sad time.”