Donegal community mourns ‘special’ teenager after fatal road collision
Chris McNulty
Josh Morrow, the 16-year-old killed in a tragic road traffic collision at the weekend, has been remembered as a “special person”.
The approaches to The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Glenfin, where his funeral service took place on Wednesday afternoon, were lined with mourners.
Traffic halted as a devastated community in An Gaeltacht Láir paused as one.
Beneath a radiant sun at the foot of Alt na Péiste, hundreds turned out to say a final farewell to a talented sportsman.
His heartbroken mother, Elma, told the large crowd: “Josh was very special, special with people, special with sport and special with words.”
She remembered how she and Josh, who was born on New Year’s Day 2010, "were a team" and how she “took such pride” in saying his name after he was born.
Josh was killed when the motorcycle he was driving was involved in a collision with a car at around 4.30pm on Saturday, April 25th, on the R252 at Cloghan.
Rev Johnny Lowden, the Church of Ireland Rector of the Stranorlar Group of Parishes, said Josh was: “a joker, a hard worker, kind and caring. Above all else, Josh was a loyal friend to so many and the heart and soul of a loving and caring family.”
Joining Rev Lowden in celebrating the Service were: Glenfin parish priest Fr Lorcan Sharkey; Glenties parish priest Fr Gerard Cunningham; Ardara parish priest Fr Aodhan Cannon; and Stranorlar curate Fr Vincent Finnegan OFM.
A large crowd of players, coaches and members of the Finn Valley Rugby Club formed a guard of honour on the ascent to the church.
Jerseys of Letterkenny, Strabane and the City of Derry joined in; Ulster Rugby shirts dotted parts of the way.
So, too, were bereaved pupils and teachers from Finn Valley College, where Josh was in his fifth year. A student from Finn Valley College read a poem, Immortality, at the start of the service.
Members of the Glenfin GAA club, heads bowed, straddled the roadsides at Páirc Taobhoige as the cortege passed from the Morrow home at Stranabrattogue, Cloghan.
“What stood out in the last few days was that Josh was at the heart of so many circles,” Rev Lowden said.
“To have to lose such a special young man leaves a space in his family and his community which can never be truly filled.
“It was immediately clear how much he meant to so many people. It was immediately clear just how special Josh was.”
Rev Lowden told Josh’s family, friends and teammates to “face the path ahead together”. He said, “Support one another, love one another, and pray to God that you may find the strength to live as Josh would want you to live.”
Josh was a talented sportsman. He played rugby for Finn Valley Rugby Club and graduated to represent Ulster at U16 and U18 levels, while he lined out for Cappry Rovers and the Glenfin GAA club.
Fr Sharkey said their world was shaken “in ways that words can barely touch”.
Fr Sharkey said: “Losing a friend so young can leave life feeling unfair and cruel. His friends loved him so much. Your grief is not a sign of weakness, but how much you loved him. Young boys and girls here today and watching online, you hold such special memories of young Josh.”
Josh was laid to rest in Cill Mhuire Cemetery.
He is survived by his parents Elma and Jerry, sister Sarah, brothers Matthew, Shane and Jason, his niece Sofia, and his granny and grandad, Dolores and Jim Thompson.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.
A spokesperson said: “Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage and were travelling in the area between 4pm and 5pm are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballyshannon Garda Station on 071 985 8530, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
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