Huge crowds mourn tragic Drum accident victim

The Church of St Brigid in Drum overflowed with mourners on Thursday afternoon last, as people from near and far gathered to pay their respects at the funeral of local man Owen McManus. During the service, Fr John McManus said news of the 23-year-old's tragic death in a road accident the previous weekend had "shocked and saddened us all." The Belrea, Drum man was killed on Sunday, July 25, when the motorcycle he was riding hit a pole on the R747 between Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, and Hacketstown, Co. Carlow. Owen was a hugely popular figure on the biking scene in Ireland and this was evident in the large group of motorcyclists who travelled to Drum to form a guard of honour with their bikes at the funeral of their friend. Inside the church, songs such as 'Blowin' in the Wind', 'On Eagles' Wings' and 'Ain't No Sunshine' were heard during a funeral mass that was concelebrated by eight priests. During his homily, Fr McManus said the tragedy had cast a "deep, dark shadow" on Owen's immediate family and on his loving partner Leoni Kirwan. "This church has seen many funerals, obviously all of them sad and some of them tragic, but there is always a special tragedy in the death of someone so young, such as Owen," said the priest. He said those who knew Owen well were remembering him as "a gifted young man with a great zest for life.... a young man who, in their company, was always great craic. "They're remembering someone who was a loyal and a trusted friend.... someone who was always obliging, who would go out of his way to help them. "For someone so young, it's interesting that one thing I've been hearing over these last few days is that they're remembering a gentleman." Pointing out some of the Owen's talents, he noted that he had made a guitar from scratch and had the honour of representing Ireland at Taekwon-Do "Of course we must also mention his great love of bikes, the fraternity, the friendship and the enjoyment that he had," said Fr McManus. "There's a huge and a sad irony in the fact that Owen loved the county of Wicklow. It was Owen who chose the route (on the weekend of the accident). It was his choice. "His Dad, Owen Snr, reminded me the other day that before he lost consciousness he looked up at the sign that he hit and his last recorded words were 'I remember this place.' "But if we are sad today, there is much to be thankful for as well. We are, at the end of the day, grateful for his life and the joy that he brought into so many people's lives." The priest said Owen's death was a reminder of "how fleeting life is for all of us and, indeed, how precarious is the hold we have on it. "Owen, after his short life, is the one who has found peace with God. We're the ones that are still on that journey." The congregation also heard heartfelt reflections from the deceased's sisters, Lisa and Megan, and from his partner Leoni, who described him as her "soulmate." In addition to his sisters and partner, Owen is survived by his parents Owen and Janet, his grandmothers Kathleen and Patsy (Gibson), aunts, uncles, Leoni's parents Kevin and Larisa, her brother Kevin and sister Polina, as well as cousins, relatives, friends and neighbours. The anthemic rock song 'Free Bird' by Lynyrd Skynyrd was played as Owen's coffin was taken from the church at the end of the funeral service. Burial took place afterwards in the local cemetery.