Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 7 Oct
MARK, LOUISE AND Evan O’Connor were remembered at a tearful funeral mass today as “a family loved by all”.
Cian O’Connor, Mark and Louise’s son and Evan’s brother, gave a eulogy and told the mourners gathered in St Patrick’s Church in Dundalk:
“We love you and we will carry you with us forever.”
The bodies of Mark, 54, his wife Louise, 56, and their son Evan, 27, were found at the family’s home in Drumgowna, outside Tallanstown village, on Monday morning last week.
Another of Mark and Louise’s sons, Robert O’Connor, 31, of Drumgowna, appeared before a special sitting of Drogheda District Court charged with three counts of murder on Tuesday last week.
Today, parish priest Father Gerry Campbell said Mark, Louise and Evan were not just loved by so many in their family and the wider community, but that they also had a “deep love for each other”.
Cian O’Connor lovingly described the qualities of his parents and younger brother in a eulogy, saying:
“Ye spent your lives looking out for us. Now it’s our turn to look after each other.”
Cian thanked the clergy who presided over today’s mass, An Garda Síochana, the local community and everyone in attendance for their support.
“No words can truly reflect how we all feel,” he said. “I’m hurting, we all are.”
But he insisted that their pain should not overshadow the lives of his brother and parents.
First, he paid tribute to his father, Mark, whom he said was “always my inspiration”.
Cian praised his father’s return to education, saying “he excelled and made it look easy”.
He also acknowledged Mark’s work as “an advocate and champion of people with disabilities”.
Cian remembered his father’s love of running and hearing from so many people who told him “it was never a hard run with Mark with you”.
“I’m so proud of my dad.”
Remembering his brother, Cian said Evan’s smile “would light up any room he walked into”.
“Evan loved to sing and he was never afraid to start,” he said.
He also spoke about the local community’s care for his autistic brother, saying they never worried about Evan “because this was his community”.
Cian also thanked all those who had come to today’s mass wearing odd socks, something his brother was fond of and known for.
And he turned to talk about his mother Louise, whose “kind spirit unsurprisingly made her a fine nurse”.
He also remembered that his mother volunteered to teach Ukrainian refugees English and her participation in the Ardee Local Vocals singing group, who sang songs in the church today.
“She valued being part of an amazing group of friends,” he said.
Finally, remembering his mother’s reaction to seeing his fiancée in her wedding dress brought him to tears.
He said Louise was so happy “to have a daughter”.
The funeral ended with a recording of Louise O’Connor singing Moon River.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say