Cork funeral hears ‘gentle giant’ Conor saved lives through organ donation

A 19-year-old man who died after he was struck by a car in Little Island, Cork, last Friday night was an “effortlessly hilarious gentle giant” who saved five lives through the gift of organ donation, his funeral Mass has heard.

Mourners at the Church of Our Lady and St John in Carrigaline were told that a stadium would be required to get all of the friends of Conor Coleman into one photograph.

His coffin was adorned in colourful handwritten tributes and messages from his friends and loved ones.

His older brother John said it was fitting that his generous brother had made an “eternal impact” through the gift of organ donation.

“As a family, we decided to donate his organs. His heart, lungs, liver, kidney, and pancreas all received five perfect matches. Meaning, as his final act on Earth, he was able to save five lives and leave a legacy to the end of time.”

John said his little brother would have been “blown away” by the large numbers who gathered at the church. He thanked all those who had called to their family home.

He said Conor had an “iconic wheezing laugh” that sometimes descended to him “dropping on the floor and rolling around” when the hilarity became too much for him.

John said it felt “criminal” that the world only got to experience the “joy, generosity, adventure, sometimes wildly inappropriate comments, and questionable fashion sense” of Conor for only 19 years.

He said he and his younger brother were the human equivalent of “Tom and Jerry”.

“He was my partner in crime. There wasn’t a day we were together since the day he was born that we weren’t causing some sort of mischief. So much so that our granddad Sean called us ‘the weapons of mass destruction’. 

"Whether that would be chasing each other around when our mum would be trying to do the shopping, or when we got our hands on red paint and I covered him in it from head to toe, not realising it wouldn’t come off without a serious amount of washing.

“Or, in more recent years, when our parents would be watching TV downstairs we would sneak up to the attic window and chain smoke a packet of Benson and Hedges.”

Although Conor was a “modern day giant”, John insisted that ultimately his character and personality dwarfed his physical stature. He said Conor had an encyclopaedic knowledge of engines and tractors from an early age. He also had a gift for friendship and forged “deep bonds” with others.

John added that life was “precious and delicate”, and it could be taken away quickly.

“Please take this as a message from Conor. No matter who they are. It could be your mother, brother, father or sister, dog, cat, friends or family. It could be anyone. If you love them tell them you love them.”

Offertory symbols at the Mass included Conor’s size 12 work boots, a high-vis vest, and jeans to represent his love of the family business; a photograph of his friends; his school ties from Shanbally and Christian Brothers College; a miniature truck, representing his recent attainment of his HDV licence; a badge of his prized possession a Toyota Corolla e11 6R; a CD, and a stone Conor found as a child which was in the shape of a heart.

All those who attended the Mass heard that the heart of Conor “is now beating in Dublin”.

Chief celebrant Fr Sean O’Sullivan said that the death of Conor felt like a “bad dream”.

He said that it was important to honour Conor and to support his parents and family following their “shattering loss”.

He added that Conor was obviously “deeply loved” by many people.

“Anyone who knew Conor could see how much he was loved. And most importantly of all, Conor knew it. There is no greater gift in life then to know that and to experience it.”

Burial followed the 1pm Mass at St John’s Cemetery in Ballinrea, Co Cork.

Conor is survived by his parents Barry and Trish, his brother John, his grandmother Betty, his aunts and uncles, extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his grandparents Sean Coleman and Tom and Eileen Carty. 

Gardaí had received a report that a pedestrian had been struck by a car shortly before midnight last Friday. Conor was taken from the scene in Little Island to hospital where he died in the presence of his family.

Forensic collision investigators attended the collision site and an examination took place. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.

Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage and were travelling in the area between 11pm and midnight on April 17 are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on 021 455 8510, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.