Funeral for Ciaran O’Boyle, student who died in NYC, held in his native Co Longford

Ciaran O'Boyle is being remembered for his "affable manner"

The funeral for Ciaran O’Boyle, the 22-year-old Irish student who died in New York City, was held in his native Co Longford on Friday, August 30.

Read More: UPDATE: Local grief over tragic death of Longford student in New York

The Irish Times reports that family and friends gathered at St. Mel’s Cathedral in Co Longford to pay their final respects to O’Boyle after his tragic death in the US.

On August 20, NYPD responded when O'Boyle was discovered laying unconscious on a sidewalk in Brooklyn. The Irish student was transported to the nearby Woodhull Hospital where he was tragically pronounced dead. NYPD, who does not believe there was a criminal element in O'Boyle's death, said O'Boyle "had trauma to his body consistent with falling from an elevated height."

O'Boyle was understood to have spent the summer in Canada before traveling to Chicago and then New York City on a holiday visa. He was due to return to Ireland only days after his tragic death. He was pursuing a computer science degree at University College Dublin (UCD) and was expected to graduate in the coming months.

Longford Cllr Joe Flaherty told The Irish Sun the night before O'Boyle's funeral: “This is an awful tragedy. He came from a very well-respected family in the area.“

"It is a parent’s worst nightmare to see their child go off for the summer and for him not return home.”

The principal mourners at St. Mel’s Cathedral on Friday were Ciaran’s parents Paddy and Jacinta, and his siblings Rachel, Kevin, and Patrick.

The Irish Times reports that seven priests, including the chaplains of Technical University Dublin (TUD) and UCD, presided over the ceremony that drew people from all aspects of O'Boyle's life.

Chief celebrant Fr James MacKiernan received symbols of O’Boyle’s life to the altar which include a picture of O'Boyle with his family, his Clonguish GAA jersey, a picture of O’Boyle pouring a pint in his family pub, and O’Boyle’s UCD computer science degree.

Fr MacKiernan said O’Boyle was “one so loved by so many” and that he hoped mourners would find comfort in the memory of the 22-year-old’s “gentle smile and affable manner.”

Read More: Tributes pour in for Irish student Ciaran O’Boyle as NYPD investigates his death

O’Boyle’s uncle Bernard O'Boyle eulogized his nephew and made reference to the young man’s successes across his personal life, schooling, sport, and career. Bernard thanked the clergy who offered the ceremony, noting that the family found “comfort and consolation in the Catholic rituals.” 

He said: “Ciarán is no further from us than God and God is very near.”