Mourners told tragic Slane Ironman competitor 'waved goodbye' with 'big smile' before swim

Mourners at the funeral of Brendan Wall (46), who died during the Ironman event in Cork on Sunday, were told that the accomplished athlete "waved goodbye" with a "big smile" as he entered the water.

Mr Wall was one of two men who died in separate incidents during the 1.9km swim section of the Ironman event in Youghal on Sunday morning.

Heartbroken family and friends including his fiancée Tina, to whom he proposed in Sicily in May and was due to marry next July, congregated at the Church of St Brigid, Grangegeeth in Slane this afternoon to bid farewell to the popular man.

Symbols of his life brought to the altar included a Meath GAA football jersey representing his love for his home county, a cycling helmet, playing cards and a golf ball, a nod to one of his favourite pastimes.

Two framed photographs, one of Brendan, and one of he and his fiancée kissing, stood on the coffin. Two Oasis songs, Live Forever and Don’t Look Back in Anger, were played during the service.

Mr Wall would have celebrated his 46th birthday next Monday.

Addressing the congregation, Fr Gerry Boyle, parish priest, said the community was “still in shock” over his passing. He sent prayers to the family of Ivan Chittenden, who also died in the event.

Fr Boyle said Brendan "lived life with passion, vigour, energy and love".

The congregation heard how Brendan attended Stackallen National School and the Community College in Navan and Fr Boyle described him as a "bright student" who went on to attend Trinity College, where he did a degree in engineering and maths and later completed a BA in Hull University.

Fr Boyle told mourners that he had a happy childhood and lived life with "a smile on his face".

"Brendan was a juvenile footballer with Rathkenny and enjoyed the good years of Meath football in the 80s and 90s and, despite living abroad for many years, kept in touch with the matches and scores.

"He made many friends and never seemed to lose any remaining friends with people from primary school, secondary school, college and the various places he worked," he added.

The congregation heard how Brendan went to England in 1999 and worked with a number of different companies, travelled a lot, but that his thoughts were never far from home.

He said: "He travelled all over the world with work, Canada, China, Germany and other places. But Grangegeeth always had a special place in his heart. He kept weekly contact with home and took great interest in the lives of his nieces and nephews."

Fr Boyle said that the Grangegeeth man had "trained hard" for the Ironman competition.

"He also loved the physical outdoors sports and completed the London Marathon in 2012, The Ring of Kerry Cycle and the Gael Force Endurance Cycle. He trained hard and no doubt it gave him purpose and direction in his life.

"He had trained hard for the Iron Man on Sunday, he was really excited about it and he had a big smile on his face and waved goodbye as he entered the water. Tina and his family were there to wave him off as were his in-laws - it was an occasion of pride and joy. In a short time, that turned to sorrow and loss.

"They are grateful to have been able to spend time with him on the Sunday evening and are thankful to East Cork Responders, paramedics and fire personal and all who helped the best they could."

When speaking about Brendan and Tina's plans for a life together, the priest made a poignant reference to a poem by Robert Frost.

"Robert Frost in his poem spoke of the two roads diverging and 'miles to go before I sleep' and we would feel this particularly true of Brendan. He proposed to Tina in Sicily in early May and planned to marry next July. There is now a huge gap and void in her life but that of his family and work places, a gap we did not expect at this time, or any time."

The mourners were led by Brendan's fiancée Tina, parents Oliver and Gertrude, brothers Martin and Joe and sister Maria.