The father of six-year-old Matthew Healy has told his funeral in Co Cork that he and his son were like "two peas in a pod" and described him as "my little lad, my buddy and my chief" who was "pure joy".
"I loved him so much. I knew straight away I had an extraordinary little man on my hands," James Healy said.
My sister often referred to us as the dream team, he added.
"Matthew was a beautiful child in every way. He had striking blue eyes, blond curly hair, a gorgeous smile and an infectious laugh. He was pure joy.
"Matthew was a very affectionate child but he was full of devilment and great craic. Right from the word go, he just loved a bit of fun.
"In his so very short six years and nine months on this earth, Matthew made an immense impact and packed a lot in.
"He was a very confident and articulate little man who made friends everywhere he went. If they didn't know him when he got there, they'd all know him by the time he was leaving, just like his granddad Donie.
Mr Healy described his son's death as "an unimaginable tragedy" and said "our hearts will be forever broken" but Matthew will be remembered "for who he was and the joy he brought into our lives".
"We will continue to celebrate his life into the future.
"To all of you here today, I implore you to cherish and enjoy your kids, do the things that are stone mad in the name of fun. You will fondly remember it just as I do now," Mr Healy said.
Earlier, the little boy's remains were brought by his family from his home in Watergrasshill, where he had reposed since Monday, to the Church of the Immaculate Conception for the mass.
Locals of all ages gathered along the route to pay their last respects.
Parish priest Fr Christy Fitzgerald told mourners at the service that Matthew's death leaves his family and his communities in Cork and Waterford "encircled by pain, sadness and overwhelming grief".
He said they gathered with a variety of thoughts and emotions, but above all they came together as a community to pray for the young boy and his family, as well as his classmates in Faithlegg National School and his team-mates in Park Rangers.
"We are where no-one wants to be today," Fr Fitzgerald said.
"Though springtime beckons and the daffodils are above ground, Matthew's death leaves us all encircled by pain, sadness and overwhelming grief".
During the mass, Matthew's uncles Bill and John, and cousins Colette and Rhys, brought mementos to the altar including Lego cars, jellies, arts and crafts and his cycling helmet.
They were described by his uncle Dan Healy as "a little sample of the wonderful life of my nephew".
The mass was followed by a private service in The Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy.
Matthew was found unresponsive in a car in the Rathmoylan area of Dunmore East, Co Waterford in the early hours of last Friday and was pronounced dead a short time later at University Hospital Waterford.
His 37-year-old mother has since been charged with his murder.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Minister for Education Norma Foley paid tribute to Matthew and passed on her "very sincere sympathy to the family, the community of Waterford and Cork and our school community" at the loss of a "much loved and much treasured little boy".
She said psychology teams were working with school staff and "our hearts are very much with everybody today".
