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Walking the final journey with one of our own
Michael Gallagher14 Sep 2020 - 17:41
John Brennan RIP
Thousands of footsteps - not a sound to be heard!
Hundreds of heart-aches - a young life mourned!
Even the lapping waves of the Moy stood in silent vigil today as the cavalcade of pain moved slowly through the ancient streets towards the resting ground on the edge of town.
Ballina, the ancient settlement gathered around The Table of Giants, has witnessed many heart-wrenching moments over the past four millennia, and today's misery was etched in that long list of pain.
Thirty minutes after the hour of noon, the uniformed ranks of St Muredach's boys lined the west side of the Moy - faces as grey as the weepy sky.
On the east bank, the great people of Ballina had gathered to show solidarity with a family immersed in a sea of grief. Hundreds of heads bowed in devastation as the body of a fine young man was carried from the sanctity of St Muredach's Cathedral.
Outside the huge wooden doors, the young men of Ballina Rugby Football Club stood in final honour for one of their own. Clad in green and navy, shoulders wide and heaving with sadness for a flank-forward who had made an impression far beyond his years.
John Brennan had played rugby like it was the most natural thing in the world. He flew off the side of the scrum and wrote his name in history. Destiny was beckoning him towards a lifetime with the crest on the chest, a lifetime standing shoulder to shoulder with the finest of friends.
Fate deemed otherwise! Fate is indeed a cruel mistress.
A few hours earlier, Dr Blaise Brunker, President of Ballina RFC, had addressed his members eloquently as the club mourned one of our own. He pledged unconditional support for the Brennans and all who mourned John. He pledged this support will last into the future as the moral character of the club will guarantee, and he asked each and every one of us to mind one another.
"Do this today and every day. Do it for John, and out of this darkness, a small spark of hope and light will grow into an eternal flame to vanquish the darkness. That will be our true memorial to John," our President added.
The club had gathered in large numbers on Sunday afternoon to visit the Brennan household and bid farewell to a young man who had been on the cusp of a great adventure.
The Youths who had soldiered alongside John - the forwards who fought alongside him in the trenches, the backs who benefitted from his daring deeds, the coaches who knew the flank forward would deliver when needed most and the officers who looked towards a future where young Brennan would be central to the greatest of days.
On Sunday afternoon, the club gathered to mourn their future and stand with the devastated family as John's heartbroken team-mates tried to come to terms with the tragedy. They lined the avenue to the Brennan homestead and gathered together hoping to find solace in the company of warrior friends.
Alan Rowe, chairman of Ballina RFC, was asked to address the gathering and as tears fell to earth, he found fitting words for the occasion.
"We're a proud rugby family here in Ballina, and today our family mourns one of our own - a young man with a short life well lived. We are grieving and grieving heavily; we're absolutely heartbroken and we know things will never be the same again. Everything will be different, but we pledge to stand as one alongside the Brennan family, today, tomorrow and always.
"All we can do is mind one another, care for one another and then play rugby the way John Brennan loved to play - with power, abandon and fun!"
"Life is precious and the beauty of life - the fun we get playing rugby together, winning and losing together, being the best we can be - will sustain us and drive us into the future," the chairman stated to a stunned audience.
Today, the Brennans brought their son and brother to the edge of town where they laid him to rest. John's heartbroken rugby friends accompanied him on his last journey and silently pledged to carry his spirit into battle the next time they don the famous green jersey.
Life will move on after today and games will be won and lost in the greatest of circumstances, but Ballina RFC will forever have a special place in the heart reserved for a young man who enjoyed some of his greatest days on the side of the scrum in the midst of his friends.
Rest In Peace, John.
Hundreds of heart-aches - a young life mourned!
Even the lapping waves of the Moy stood in silent vigil today as the cavalcade of pain moved slowly through the ancient streets towards the resting ground on the edge of town.
Ballina, the ancient settlement gathered around The Table of Giants, has witnessed many heart-wrenching moments over the past four millennia, and today's misery was etched in that long list of pain.
Thirty minutes after the hour of noon, the uniformed ranks of St Muredach's boys lined the west side of the Moy - faces as grey as the weepy sky.
On the east bank, the great people of Ballina had gathered to show solidarity with a family immersed in a sea of grief. Hundreds of heads bowed in devastation as the body of a fine young man was carried from the sanctity of St Muredach's Cathedral.
Outside the huge wooden doors, the young men of Ballina Rugby Football Club stood in final honour for one of their own. Clad in green and navy, shoulders wide and heaving with sadness for a flank-forward who had made an impression far beyond his years.
John Brennan had played rugby like it was the most natural thing in the world. He flew off the side of the scrum and wrote his name in history. Destiny was beckoning him towards a lifetime with the crest on the chest, a lifetime standing shoulder to shoulder with the finest of friends.
Fate deemed otherwise! Fate is indeed a cruel mistress.
A few hours earlier, Dr Blaise Brunker, President of Ballina RFC, had addressed his members eloquently as the club mourned one of our own. He pledged unconditional support for the Brennans and all who mourned John. He pledged this support will last into the future as the moral character of the club will guarantee, and he asked each and every one of us to mind one another.
"Do this today and every day. Do it for John, and out of this darkness, a small spark of hope and light will grow into an eternal flame to vanquish the darkness. That will be our true memorial to John," our President added.
The club had gathered in large numbers on Sunday afternoon to visit the Brennan household and bid farewell to a young man who had been on the cusp of a great adventure.
The Youths who had soldiered alongside John - the forwards who fought alongside him in the trenches, the backs who benefitted from his daring deeds, the coaches who knew the flank forward would deliver when needed most and the officers who looked towards a future where young Brennan would be central to the greatest of days.
On Sunday afternoon, the club gathered to mourn their future and stand with the devastated family as John's heartbroken team-mates tried to come to terms with the tragedy. They lined the avenue to the Brennan homestead and gathered together hoping to find solace in the company of warrior friends.
Alan Rowe, chairman of Ballina RFC, was asked to address the gathering and as tears fell to earth, he found fitting words for the occasion.
"We're a proud rugby family here in Ballina, and today our family mourns one of our own - a young man with a short life well lived. We are grieving and grieving heavily; we're absolutely heartbroken and we know things will never be the same again. Everything will be different, but we pledge to stand as one alongside the Brennan family, today, tomorrow and always.
"All we can do is mind one another, care for one another and then play rugby the way John Brennan loved to play - with power, abandon and fun!"
"Life is precious and the beauty of life - the fun we get playing rugby together, winning and losing together, being the best we can be - will sustain us and drive us into the future," the chairman stated to a stunned audience.
Today, the Brennans brought their son and brother to the edge of town where they laid him to rest. John's heartbroken rugby friends accompanied him on his last journey and silently pledged to carry his spirit into battle the next time they don the famous green jersey.
Life will move on after today and games will be won and lost in the greatest of circumstances, but Ballina RFC will forever have a special place in the heart reserved for a young man who enjoyed some of his greatest days on the side of the scrum in the midst of his friends.
Rest In Peace, John.
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