The mother of a young fisherman who was fatally stabbed last Thursday has said that his loss leaves "a huge void" in the family.
Jack Power, 25, was laid to rest after funeral mass in Our Lady’s Church in Carbally, Co Waterford, today.
Hundreds of people gathered in the small church and outside to see his remains arriving from the family home.
He died in University Hospital Waterford on Thursday after he was stabbed in an incident in Dunmore East.
A 17-year-old who was arrested that morning was released without charge early on Friday.
"Jack will leave a huge void in our family," his mother Loretta said at the end of the funeral mass.
"Jack’s life was so short but he lived it to the full... He worked hard and played hard, was very witty and loved the crack."
She said she had heard many stories about Jack for the first time in recent days from his friends, all of which emphasised his loyalty, sense of fun and love for them all, as well as his love for the sea.
Symbols of Jack’s life brought to the church at the beginning of the mass included a fishing needle to mend the nets, a sign for Tottenham Hotspur’s home ground White Hart Lane, a set of darts and a memoir of boxer Mohammed Ali, reflecting his love of sports.
Fr Donal Hogan told the congregation that the presence of so many people was a better testament than any words to what Jack meant to everyone.
"His two younger brothers, Ben and Lee, said he was a great big brother. He was a role model. They said, 'if we would be like Jack, we’d be doing very well'. I don’t think we can say anything more than that: 'if we would be like Jack, we would be doing very well,' and that’s coming from those who know him best, his family, his brothers," said Fr Hogan.
