Emotional farewell for Jeremy Burke

'A talented, kind, beautiful and funny human being' was the essential theme in recollections of the late Jeremy Burke of Kilcullen at his funeral today. Jeremy passed away unexpectedly in his sleep in Toronto on 22 January, at the age of 27, to the shock of the Burke and Kelly families and very many friends.

An honour guard from Kilcullen GAA escorted the hearse carrying the wicker casket covered in the Irish tricolour as Jeremy's last journey through Kilcullen took place, watched by an exceptionally large number of mourners from all across the community. The cortege was welcomed to Kilcullen Parish Church by Parish Priest Fr Gary Darby, and the coffin was carried into the church to the song 'Forever Young' performed by Kilcullen singer Shane McGrath and musician friends. Memorial items brought to the altar included a Kilcullen GAA jersey, a work jacket from Jeremy's carpentry and maintenance employment in Toronto, a St Brigid's Cross representing Jeremy's love of his home county of Kildare, and a family photograph.

Fr Darby welcomed the family 'during these very sad days', especially Jeremy's mother Louise, his father Gerry, sister Edie, and brother William, his stepfather Ronan, his grandmothers Rita and Peg and his grandfather Joe, the extended family and friends. Others were joining the Mass online from Australia and Canada, including Jeremy's girlfriend Tonnie in Toronto.

In his homily, Fr Darby said it was very important to acknowledge the depth of feeling very evident in the church, "the depth of love and appreciation for Jeremy, a very warm, caring and respectable young man, loved deeply by his family and his very large circle of friends." He spoke of the huge outpouring of support for Jeremy's family which there had been since his death. "In the midst of their grief and loss, they have been surrounded by good people — a testimony to the kindness, warmth and community spirit in our parish in Kilcullen."

In the course of the Mass, Jeremy was recalled in many ways, including as an exceptionally talented singer, guitar player, and frontman in the many bands with which he had been associated. He was also someone deeply loved, as was testified in a poem read by his sister Edie and excerpts of letters read out from his girlfriend Tonnie Robinson Miller, a previous love Juliana, and from his friend Brad Oliver. Jeremy was also described as a keen player of Gaelic football, soccer and rugby, who had a great sense of adventure and bravery. 

Thanks from the family were expressed to Conor Bell of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, the Irish Embassy and Consulate in Toronto, family friend Barry Comerford who set up a GoFundMe appeal, Fr John Reidy of St Basil's Church in Toronta, and Fr Darby and Fr Harte in Kilcullen along with the Parish team.

Jeremy was laid to rest in St Brigid's Cemetery in Kilcullen.