A British Army officer killed in a training incident took up his call "to serve the common good of humanity", mourners have been told at his funeral service in Co Roscommon.
Captain Philip Gilbert Muldowney, aged 25, died on Sunday 25 January following an incident at Otterburn Training Area in Northumberland, one of the UK's largest army training ranges.
The officer, who grew up in Co Roscommon, served as a fire support commander within 129 (Dragon) Battery of the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery.
The Ministry of Defence said Capt Muldowney was an "immensely enthusiastic officer who embraced life with a vigour that inspired those around him".
Known locally as Gilbert, Capt Muldowney grew up in Ballinameen, near Boyle after his family moved there from Dublin when he was a child.
His father, David, is a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Elphin.
At St Attracta’s Church, Ballinameen Bishop Kevin Doran told those gathered Capt Muldowney brought "joy and hope" to those around him.
His colleagues and friends from the army who Bishop Doran said "were closest to him at the time of his death" were at the service.
Reverend Captain Henry Afful was in attendance alongside Colonel Sean Grant, defence attache to the British embassy, Colonel Harry Waller, commanding officer in the Fourth Regiment Royal Artillery and Colonel William Tulloch, First Battalion Scots Guards Commander.
Mr Muldowney’s coffin was carried into the chapel by uniformed officers.
There were also representatives from the Irish Defence Forces and Mr Muldowney’s local GAA club.
Bishop Doran who carried out the service said the community were sharing stories about Captain Muldowney as they mourned his loss.
He said: "Many stories have been told about Gilbert over cups of tea and coffee, and many more will be told before the day is out, stories of his escapades and of his commitment, his interest in archery and brewing, to mention but a few."
Among the items brought to the altar during the service were walking boots as a symbol of his love of the mountains, a longbow handmade by Capt Muldowney, his favourite book The Count Of Monte Cristo, and his St Christopher’s medal as a "symbol of his love of jewellery, his faith and his delight in travelling".
Bishop Doran added: "We’re called to give our hearts to Jesus, who said to live by his word, it can take a whole lifetime, but as we have seen in Gilbert’s case, a lifetime sometimes has to be fitted into a few short years.
"We give thanks today for all that Gilbert achieved in such a short space of time, for all the joy and hope he brought to his family and friends."
Capt Muldowney joined the British Army on 5 January 2020, commissioning into the Royal Artillery on 11 December 2020 after attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
He graduated from Elphin Community College in 2019 and the school’s principal Anne Gilleran said Captain Muldowney "is spoken of with enormous respect and affection by staff who knew him well".
"In a small school, those memories endure, and Gilbert’s contribution to Elphin Community College is remembered with great pride," she said.
"Elphin Community College has a long-standing tradition of displaying photographs of its head students.
"Gilbert’s photograph hangs above the main entrance to the school, where it stands as a quiet reminder of the standards, character and generosity of spirit he brought to our community."
