On Saturday, the funeral mass of 15-year-old Cillian “Cillo” Flaherty held in Dublin bore many symbols significant to his young life. His cherished mobile phone, a trophy marking him as the ‘player of the year’, and a hairbrush reflecting his love for his hair were all presented on the altar. Cillian was set to feature as a participant on the TV show, Ireland’s Fittest Family.
The mass was led by Fr Justin Purba at the Church of St Philip the Apostle in Clonsilla. He explicated each symbol brought to the altar, acknowledging the football jersey with the number 6 as a testament to Cillian’s commitment to community sport. The family picture, he noted, was expressive of Cillian’s deeply rooted affection for his family.
Mourners, many of them donning bright colours and including blue ribbons in their hair, gathered in large numbers. The coffin was adorned with sky blue paint and covered in messages from Cillian’s loved ones.
Cillian’s elder brother, Kian, honoured his memory with heartfelt words, expressing his deep love for him. He acknowledged their sibling bond, stating, “We were inseparable friends,” and recalled how their disagreements never lasted for long. He lamented he’d miss seeking Cillian’s input on the ‘plan of action’ (POA), and remembered Cillian’s easygoing nature, as he often said, “I just go with the flow bro”. He praised his brother as a kind-hearted individual, saying, “You were the most benevolent soul with the largest heart”.
In his address, he highlighted Cillian’s vast collection of attires and watches, conveying his gratitude towards the numerous individuals belonging to the church and educational institutions who had extended their condolences to the Flaherty family in the past week. He turned his words towards Cillian to emphasise the profound and supreme influence he had exerted over the community.
He complimented the tremendous bonding he witnessed among Cillian’s friends, a camaraderie that was unfathomable and unparalleled. He alluded to Cillian’s self-assured ambitions of obtaining fame and wealth before him, having succeeded at least partially by gaining worldwide coverage on news outlets, newspapers, and even acknowledgement from his admired rappers.
The most aggrieved family members who attended the funeral included Cillian’s parents, Paul and Paula, alongside his siblings– Kian and Heidi, and his girlfirend Katie. Paul Flaherty shared at the funeral that it was Paula’s choice to opt for a vibrant-coloured coffin and encourage attendees to express their feelings for Cillian through written messages on it. Paul also expressed gratitude to the production team of ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’ TV series for deferring the show’s broadcast. Extolling the team for their visit to their home over the last few days, he disclosed that Cillian had eagerly anticipated watching the show, assuming that it would fetch him scores of autograph seekers. Paul added that the family and surrounding community will view the episode whenever it is eventually aired, be it in six months or later.