The tribute is paid to a 17-year-old soccer player who is “destined to be great”, but he died tragically after the accident.
Uke Byrne, 17, from Kaban’s Bowenboy, died after a car traveling with his mother Lorraine collided with an N3 truck in Kilnaleck, Kaban, on Thursday night.
Lorraine, in her 50s, is being treated for an injury at the Virgin Hospital in Lourdes, Drogheda.
The rural community of Co Cavan was shaken by the death of a young man.
Gerry Prior, chair of the Corro GAA Club, told Independent.ie tonight:
“We are a small rural community and a small GAA club.
“Luke’s death has hit our communities and clubs a lot.”
The Corro GAA Club, where Luke started senior football earlier this year, posted a compliment online.
“A talented soccer player who loves to play soccer, a teammate who was rock solid and had a lot to offer in his short life …”
“Since he was a minor playing with the Dana Cleeve Gaels, he has won numerous medals. From the beginning, he found this to be one notable player. In fact, Luke is us. Proved to be okay.
“He was one of the most talented soccer players in green and white jerseys for Koro.”
The fifth grade of St. Moog’s College was a talented basketball player and also known as a hard-working young man.
The boy was working part-time at a local supermarket. When I wasn’t going to school or working, I was in the GAA club, practicing, playing, and supporting other players.
“Luke really liked football,” Praia said. “The spare time he had went to GAA.
“He was practicing here on the ground. He was always kicking football.
“Luke gave the team a lot of inspiration. He would have been a top player.
“He was developing on the Cavan development team. Luke played for Cavan and he would have played to a high standard.”
He remembered Luke as “a wonderful, talented and hard-working young man.”
Mr. Praia said Luke worked in a local supermarket and the boy “will always greet everyone.”
“He was always really happy and outgoing,” he added. “He was also a great basketball player.
“Luke loved life. He played against Corro and then went to the store to finish the shift, even if it was an hour.
“He was a hard-working boy. His outlook was good. This is a terrible loss.”
From the age of 11, boys have won numerous medals in their first sports career playing at Dernacrieve Gaels.
And when he was 17, he joined the Corlough GAA Club and had already shown his future abilities at Cavan.
One woman wrote online that Luke was “a bright, shining star shot too early.”
The man remembered the young sportsman, “Wonderful … the world is at your feet.”
He said he was honored to know Luke and share the field with him.
“My teammates were only short-lived, but I remembered them forever,” he said.
Another man added:
“Grief to the whole family. RIP Luke.”
Luke is also survived by his father Tony and his sister Grace.
Lorraine was also involved in the Corrow GAA Club, where he not only supported the organization, but also provided physiotherapy there.
It turned out that Luke was in the car with his mother around 6 pm on Thursday. When their car collided with an N3 heavy truck in Kilnaleck, CoCavan. His father wasn’t in the car at that time. Luke died at Cavan General Hospital.
Gardai called for witnesses to the clash, and police demanded camera and dashcam footage from someone traveling the N3 between Butlers Bridge and Belturbet from 5:45 pm to 6:30 pm Thursday. ..
For information, call Cavan Garda Station at 0494368800, Garda Confidential Line at 1800666111, or any Garda Station.
A book of condolences was opened at the Corlough Community Center tonight / last night.
