The funeral service for Kevin Kelly, who died in a house fire in Casla, Co Galway earlier this week has heard that he was a free spirit who lived to help others.
Mr Kelly died alongside 76-year-old Sunny Jacobs when a fire broke out at her cottage at Gleann Mhac Muirinn in Casla on Wednesday morning.
The 31-year-old was a carer for Ms Jacobs. He also looked after her husband Peter Pringle prior to his death in 2023.
Mr Kelly's younger sister, Jill, told mourners at the Discovery Church on the Tuam Road this afternoon that her brother loved "the tranquil life surrounded by the community of Conamara".
He was born in Dublin but moved to Inis Mór with his family at the age of four. The family subsequently relocated to Athenry.
Mourners were told that Mr Kelly loved dogs even though he was bitten in the face by one at a young age.
Ms Kelly said that there was a lesson to be learned in how her brother moved on from this frightening experience and ended up volunteering for the dog welfare charity MADRA.
She added that Mr Kelly's time in MADRA was a "life changing experience" for her older brother.
"It was where his love of dogs was truly discovered, and it was where he met his beautiful (partner) Sheree.
"Sheree told me this week that the first time she went out to MADRA to volunteer she got out of the car and she said to Kev 'Where do you keep the pit bulls?'
"And that was it. He was hook, line and sinker (in love). Sheree you and Kevin were made for each other, and he loved you so much," Ms Kelly said.
She added that they had lost "a son, a brother, a partner, friend and rock".
Mr Kelly is survived by his mother Fiona, his father Ken, Ken's partner Maureen and her son Jonathan, Kevin’s partner Sheree, his siblings Jill and Cúán, brothers-in-law Conor and Kal, his nieces and nephew, extended family, friends and neighbours.
Following the service a cremation took place in Shannon Crematorium.
