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| Beloved Rory Staunton |
Rory Staunton, age 12 when he passed away, was always a little Irishman. He died in a New York hospital last weekend of a freak toxic infection.
Though born in Manhattan and a resident of Queens from an early age, he brought out his brightest colors where Ireland was concerned.
One of my first images of my nephew is as a four year old proudly flying the Irish tricolor in his house shortly before his family headed off to Ireland for the summer.
When there, he had a great friend in his cousin Donal in Westport County, Mayo. The two would be out and about all day, racing on the nearby beach, planning and plotting the games little boys play.
His father remembers a night when a gaggle of cousins and Rory decided to camp out all night. The longer the night went, the more the kids began to abandon it as things went bump in the night and temperatures dropped. Rory was the last to survive, brave as usual.
The rest of the time his mother and father, Ciaran and Orlaith, stayed in my sister Triona’s holiday home in West Kerry, hard by the Brandon mountain, wild and scenic and utterly isolated and where generations of the O’Dowds hailed from.
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READ MORE:
12-Year-Old Rory Staunton’s life is celebrated in style at New York church
When darkness comes and illness strikes a child
Rory Staunton, a beautiful boy, leaves this earth. The hardest column I will ever have to write
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Rory loved it there and I walked the roads with him several times showing where his grandfather’s farm was and where 14 kids were raised on a patch of land that would “scarcely bathe a star” as Yeats remarked.
He loved to hang out in the pubs there, listen to the fishermen tell their tall tales, race down to the piers to see the boats come in and measure up the catch.
Padraig, his relative there, marked Rory out early as an Irish lad.
“That fellow is not American at all,” he’d say, looking at the flaming red head, so clearly at home among the locals.
“Yerrah, he’s one of ours,” he’d say.
He was indeed one of theirs and now he is home among them though not the way any of us could ever have imagined.
Aer Lingus Flight 104 took off from New York last night with Rory’s little body on board. There was never a question but that he would go back to his people.
The airline could not have been more accommodating and helpful to us family members heading back on our long journey home with Rory.
We arrived in Dublin on a cold but clear spring morning into the embrace of the loving tribe. Family had come from all over to bear him home.
Over the next two days before he finally rests beside his nana in an Irish graveyard, the Irish tribes he springs from, the Stauntons from Mayo to the O’Dowds from Kerry and Louth, will embrace him back into their bosom now.
Their laughing American Irish boy is home.
22 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.SyndiHolmes | Apr 08, 2012, 04:43 PM EDT
I am so sorry for your family's loss of such a great young man with such a bright future ahead of him. My sister's oldest son died at 19 so I understand your heartbreak. I hope persons who read your poignantly written accounts of Rory's passing will come away understanding how precious and precarious life is and that we should treasure each moment you have with those we love.
hermitTalker | Apr 08, 2012, 10:05 AM EDT
Beautiful narrative all the way Niall. Prayers for the families. I pray this saintly originally daring boy will help heal all the cynicism about Jesus, His Church and the sad state of the vulnerable with the governments, last and current, and the need for a profound conversion of mind and soul. That includes the cynic on here who dis-honoured your grief. PEACE is Jesus' Easter greeting.
biddyerly | Apr 08, 2012, 12:23 AM EDT
Niall and family, I have read your story for the past few days and cried each day. My heart goes out to your family, what a tragic story. I pray for your sister, her husband and all your family each day, my sincere sympathy to all of you. What a lovely young boy Rory..! We lost a lovely young member of our family, (my sisters only son)he was sixteen years of age, we were all devestated, so I know what your family is going through. My thoughts and prayers are with your sister and all your family, may God give you all strength, peace, and understanding at this time and in the long journey ahead! May that handsome young child Rory ...Rest In Peace!
McNamara31 | Apr 07, 2012, 10:46 PM EDT
God Bless this little one and surround his family with strength and peace.
EileenL | Apr 07, 2012, 09:07 PM EDT
Niall my heart is heavy for your Family loss losing that lovely Boy Rory ,, yourheartache comes through in your writing about his life and how much he meant to you ,his Family and friends ,i write through tears for the loss of that lovely young Boy,be there for your Sister Niall She will need you as will his Dad like never before,, i too lost a Son Gary the pain is brutal but greatly helped by Family and Friends ,,R.I.P.Rory
stonethrower | Apr 07, 2012, 08:54 PM EDT
SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE STAUNTON & O'DOWD FAMILIES ON YOUR TRAGIC LOSS.AS A PARENT I KNOW THIS IS THE NIGHTMARE SENARIO VISITED UPON YOU & ALTHOUGH WORDS NOW ARE SO VERY INADEQUATE ,I HOPE YOU RECIEVED SOME SMALL COMFORT FROM THE GOOD WILL & PRAYERS OF THE IRISH & NEW YORK COMMUNITY IN WHICH RORY LIT UP, FOR ALBEIT A WAY TOO SHORT 12 YEARS.R.I.P YOUNG MAN,I HOPE THE MEMORY OF YOU WILL GIVE YOUR FAMILY THE STRENGTH TO CARRY ON.
noreendelargy | Apr 07, 2012, 06:22 PM EDT
Niall, Sincere condolences to you and your family and Rory will be missed by all your family. I am sure it was very distressing for you to have to put your emotional thoughts in print but I am sure there are lots of people like me who appreciate you sharing this poignant event with us all. Rory is now at rest in Ireland BUT far too soon. May He Rest In Peace and please God your sister/brother-in-law and all your extended families will be able to come to terms with this tragedy. Rory will be in my prayers.
kinvara7 | Apr 07, 2012, 05:19 PM EDT
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
sirpeter | Apr 07, 2012, 05:17 PM EDT
This is so sad.I like that Rory is coming home to the resting place of his ancestors.Rest in Peace little chap.
Searlit | Apr 07, 2012, 04:40 PM EDT
It's really very emotional reading about Rory's journey over to Ireland. Hearing about people being accommodating and supportive, you realize how in tune with one another we can all be, at times like this. There's always a few who resist everything in life. I Thank-you for sharing your feelings with us readers, also.
ellenred | Apr 07, 2012, 03:40 PM EDT
Niall, I have shed many tears for Rory and I never knew him. I wish I had. He sounds like the kind of student teachers live to teach, and learn from too. Fierce hugs for you and all his family. As an Irish - American red head, I share his love of West Kerry, and can picture him there listening to music and talking to the men just off the fishing boats Ellen
MCCOLGAN1492 | Apr 07, 2012, 02:24 PM EDT
Niall and family, recently I attended a funeral for a family member and the priest used this analogy which seems most appropriate: Rory has boarded a ship, everyone present is waving goodbye... As this ship moves over the horizon to another shore, all those gone before will be waving hello.... He took this journey too soon, but know this, we will all take the same journey..
Gaelphoncán | Apr 07, 2012, 01:55 PM EDT
Ní maith liom bhur dtrioblóid, a Néill. Go dtuga Dia suaimhneas síoraí do Ruairí óg agus sólás dá mhuintir chroíbhriste. Tá rudaí tragóideacha a tharlaíonn nach dtuigfidh muid go deo sa saol seo. Caithfidh muid iad a fhágáil i lámha Dé.
borefield | Apr 07, 2012, 01:20 PM EDT
Again, my condolences to Niall and his family on this tragic loss. May all of you find some comfort in the soft rolling green hills of Ireland. Joma5004, have you ice water running through your veins?. You are a nasty one.!
TopoTheMornin2U | Apr 07, 2012, 12:53 PM EDT
And you, joma5004, ought to be ashamed of yourself.
TopoTheMornin2U | Apr 07, 2012, 12:50 PM EDT
Dear Mr. O'Dowd, I am so sorry for you and your family on your tragic, unimaginable loss. Such a lovely looking boy. I do not know you, or Rory, but you're Irish and Ireland always welcomes home one of our own. RIP Rory Staunton and God grant your family the strength to carry on without you in this life until you meet again in the next. Sincerest condolences, Liz in Derry
mclichte | Apr 07, 2012, 11:41 AM EDT
I am very moved by your accounts and I am sorry for your loss. I think it's important to chronicle the big moments in life and please don't listen to any negativity. I know these accounts must be giving comfort to your family and that is what matters most at time like this. Thank you for sharing it with readers.
emorstscr | Apr 07, 2012, 11:40 AM EDT
joma5004, for shame, why this comment was allowed to appear is beyond me. joma5004 whoever you are, take your bitterness and coldness somewhere else, how dare you judge an uncle's love for his nephew. I would like an explanation as to why this comment appeared.
DrMcHugh | Apr 07, 2012, 11:32 AM EDT
Dear Niall, Thankyou for sharing this story of your special nephew Rory. I am very sorry for your loss. Also, thank you for your wonderful articles in keeping us up-to-date on all things Irish. You are doing a superb job. Easter blessings to you and to your family. Peace, Dr Rosemary Eileen McHugh
Helen Ferone | Apr 07, 2012, 09:39 AM EDT
My worst nightmare is to have something happen to my children and grandchildren before my time has come, and the time for this beautiful boy was way too soon wasn't it? They'll be people waiting to embrace him on his journey home, and we all will meet again in the hereafter.
KSERRAHN | Apr 07, 2012, 09:37 AM EDT
Oh Niall I can not tell you how truly sorry I am for you and his Mum and Dad.Words will never be enough. At least you where blessed to have known him even if only for a little while. Again I'm so sorry. Kim Serrahn
Taho1221 | Apr 07, 2012, 09:33 AM EDT
Thank you, Niall, for chronicling Rory's journey for us. Easter is a sacred time, especially for the Irish. May God bless Rory, and all.