Lorcán Branagan, 26, tragically passed away in Sydney last month after an accident, and was laid to rest in St. John’s Church Ballymaghery, Hilltown on Friday.

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It was the second time tragedy had struck the Branagan family after Lorcán’s brother Peárce died suddenly from a cardiac incident in 2018.

A talented dual GAA player for local club Clonduff, teammates of Lorcán’s were present in the church alongside his family, while GAA President Jarlath Burns was also in attendance.

Ross Carr, who won two All-Ireland titles with Down and is a prominent member of the Clonduff club, addressed the funeral and described Lorcán as having lived a ‘big, brave, beautiful life’.

“Lorcán lived a big, brave, beautiful life filled with love,” he told mourners.

“That’s all of us can hope and strive for.

“How would you describe Lorcán? A former teacher described him as a model student and the finest young lad he had taught in his 35 years of teaching.

“There were many ways you could describe Lorcán and yet the one that sums him up for me came from our former team manager, Adrian Cush, who simply said Lorcán was the type of lad who as a father you’d just love to have come to your door to ask your daughter out.

“But you’d hate to see him walking towards you to mark him on a pitch.

“Lorcán’s tragic passing will change us, we can’t help that. But as a club we will be there for Lorcán’s family and each other.”

Parish priest Fr Charles Byrne said Lorcan was held in ‘high esteem’ by all who knew him, and that news of his death had devastated the local community.

“The news of Lorcan’s tragic death on 24 March has brought devastating shock and grief to you, the Branagan family, his family circle, his friends and to our local community here in Clonduff and his friends too in Australia.

“He was held in very high esteem by all who knew him.

“Many glowing tributes were paid about Lorcan over the past couple of weeks, and all of these speak to us about the very special young person that Lorcan was.

“We all know Larkin had a great love for Gaelic football.