‘Living faith’ of Brendan Óg O’Dufaigh remembered

The 19-year-old Monaghan GAA player who was killed in a car accident was remembered as a “shining star”, shining on family and loved ones.

Brendán ‘Ógie’ Ó Dufaigh was driving home after playing in the Ulster football championship semi-final when the crash occurred.

The funeral took place in St Macartan’s Cathedral in Monaghan, where Fr Paddy McGinn thanked God for “the love, kindness, and happiness Óige gave to family and to all who knew him”.

Ógie’s father Brendán, mother Esther and sisters Claire and Áine were joined by his relations, his friends, fellow players in Monaghan Harps GFC and U20 county team and his work mates in Kingspan.

Ahead of the service, teammates formed a guard of honour as the young footballer’s coffin, draped in a Monaghan flag, was carried into the church.

In his homily, Fr McGinn praised Ógie’s “very living faith”.

“In pre-Covid times, he would go to morning Mass before a game,” Fr McGinn said. “He had his rosary beads and cross in the side pocket of his kit bag last Friday night.

“He lit candles in Saint Joseph’s Church here in Monaghan town and served the 8:30 Mass along with his two siblings.”

Ógie was a humble man, Fr McGinn said, even though he made many great achievements.

“He was invited to join the [Monaghan] U20 panel, and this year was selected captain of the 2021 team,” Fr McGinn continued.

“He didn’t announce this, indeed he hardly told his parents.”

Fr McGinn said that “we have heard many stories over the last few days of the positive deeds and great favours he did for many of his friends”, and called Ógie a “hard worker”.

He finished his homily, saying “we had hoped Ógie’s star would shine on his family and on the great GAA pitches and stages of Ireland.

“We believe that young glint in the eye of the shining star of Ógie Ó’Dufaigh is shining on all of us today,” he said.