“Everything happens for a reason. I prepare for it. Like I say, at the end of the day, those in charge of their own destiny are going to do what’s right for them and their family”
Shaquille O’Neal
Pictures: Eamonn Keogh
Businesses closed their doors and dimmed their lights as a mark of respect and the streets of Killarney were appropriately still and sombre as the much loved Caoimhin ‘Shaq’ O’Donoghue embarked on his poignant final journey through the streets of the town he loved and where everybody knew his name.
There was a distinct sense of loss and an palpable air of sadness in the town on Monday evening and again this Tuesday as Killarney turned out in force to bid an emotional farewell to the larger-than-life Ardshanavooly man who was a legend in local sporting circles and a thorough gentleman to encounter off the court and off the field.
Crowds queued for hours at O’Shea’s Funeral Home on Monday evening and there was another huge turnout this morning for the Requiem Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral.
Principal celebrant, Killarney Parish Administrator, Fr Kieran O’Brien, said Caoimhin was everybody’s friend and he had time for everyone he met.
“He was so well known locally and throughout the county and beyond,” he said.
“For many major events in life, we can almost all recall where we were, what we were doing and who told us and on Thursday morning I’m sure all of us can remember where we were and how we heard of Caoimhin’s passing. It certainly stopped us in our tracks.
“A man larger than life, a young man active and strong and yet life is whipped from him”.
Fr O’Brien said the past few weeks had been a real rollercoaster for Caoimhin and his family as he went from leading an active and healthy life to not feeling too well and being hospitalised and diagnosed with a serious illness.
While surgery had been scheduled, his family was hopeful and upbeat and just last week Caoimhin had received good news about treatment options.
“On that very same day, Caoimhin took a bad turn and he could not fight it and he could not survive it,” Fr O’Brien added.
The congregation in the cathedral heard that in his all-too-short 49 years, Caoimhin could not have had a better life, he lived it to the full and, like his presence and stature, he made a huge contribution to Killarney where he was so well liked and well respected.
“He has left a mark and a void that cannot be filled,” Fr O’Brien said.
He reflected on how Caoimhin revelled in his nickname which he earned through his basketball exploits when team-mates compared him to the American basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal.
“I’m sure many people in this town and beyond didn’t even know his Christian name,” the celebrant said, adding that when he was Baptised in the cathedral in 1975 his name was actually registered as Keveen.
A lifelong basketball player and coach with his beloved St Paul’s club and a former underage player with Munster, Caoimhin was also a Dr Crokes diehard, playing at all levels before turning his attention to coaching and enjoying great success with the club’s ladies’ team.
Fr O’Brien was joined on the altar for the con-celebrated Requiem Mass by Bishop Ray Browne, Bishop Emeritus Bill Murphy, Fr Nicholas Flynn, Fr Jim Lenihan, Fr Mark Moriarty, Fr Paddy O’Donoghue, Fr Ger Godley and Fr Tadhg Fitzgerald.
Symbols brought forward to celebrate Caoimhin’s life were a Dr Crokes jersey and a St Paul’s top, a family photograph to recall his love of family, his mobile phone which he was seldom without, a photograph he took of Ross Castle which was one of his favourite places and a Liverpool scarf to celebrate his love for the club.
Fittingly and movingly, the Liverpool anthem, You’ll never walk alone, was sung with considerable gusto as Caoimhin’s coffin was shouldered from the cathedral.
There were moving scenes on Monday evening as former team-mates from both St Paul’s and Dr Crokes, along with other friends, helped shoulder his coffin, draped in the colours of both clubs, from the funeral home to the church and as the funeral cortege wound its way through the town this Tuesday, on Shaq’s final journey to Aghadoe Cemetery, both clubs flanked the hearse as it was led in the slow procession by his motorcycle club pals.
“Imagine a bike enthusiast without a motorbike – that was Caoimhin,” Fr O’Brien said.
“He travelled across countries with them and he became their closest friend”.
Above all, he said, Caoimhin will be remembered for being a loving son, a cherished brother and a great friend.
“In a sporting context, on Thursday morning, Caoimhin finished the race but he finished it before his time. He had so much more to live for,” said Fr O’Brien.
“He was a magnet to people and is now drawn to eternal life. You’ll never walk alone Caoimhin,” Fr O’Brien concluded.
Caoimhin’s brother, Cormac, who journeyed with him for years on the basketball courts of Ireland, said it would be an understatement to say that the last week has been surreal.
“We experienced all the emotions, from hope to hopelessness and from joy to sadness, until Caoimhin’s passing in the early hours of Thursday.
“Since then we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and kindness from so many people from all walks of life,” he said.
Reflecting on Shaq’s trademark humour, his mischievous ways and his famous love of food, Cormac recalled a time when Caoimhin was selected for the Munster under15 basketball panel and he told their mother than he had to get fit for the games.
She encouraged him day after day to go for a run in the morning and, eventually, he relented and set out on his training jog from the family home in Ardshanavooly.
Cormac said after about 15 minutes, he hopped on his bicycle to see how his younger brother was getting on.
“I didn’t have to go far,” he smiled.
“There he was, ambling over the Countess Road bridge eating a Choc Ice and a packet of Taytos.
“I started laughing and said ‘how’s your run going’’?
Quick as a wink, Caoimhin replied: “Sure I had to get up my energy, didn’t I?”
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