Funeral held for ‘full of life’ student who collapsed and died on Greek island
One of two school leavers who died on the Greek island of Ios was described as a ‘force of nature’ and a ‘fabulous son’ at his funeral today.
Max Wall’s service was held in south Dublin, eight days after he fell ill and collapsed while waiting for a ferry at Ios’s port.
The 18-year-old, who underwent heart surgery three years ago, was rushed to a health centre but could not be saved.
Hours earlier, Andrew O’Donnell, who attended the same school as Max, St Michael’s College in south Dublin, was found dead on a rocky hill on the island.
It’s believed Andrew, also 18, had fallen while walking back to his accommodation from a night out.
The teenagers were among a large group of young people from St Michael’s and other Dublin schools who travelled to the island to celebrate the end of their exams.
Mourners gathered at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook and were told Max had been talking on his phone to his dad, Niall, shortly before he died.
Niall and Max’s mum Fiona both paid tribute at the service.
Niall said: ‘Today marks the end of an eight-day journey for us that with the most profound cruelty has not only taken Max from us but has robbed him of a bright future. And the sense of loss that we feel is so deep because of what he has lost.’
‘Today is a day to remember Max, of course to mourn his premature death, but also to mark his short but very full life. Max was full of life. He brightened the life of others. He was the best craic. He was full of fun. The best kind.’
He spoke of his son’s ambitious nature, his generosity, independence and polite, kind and respectful demeanour.
‘The most important thing about Max is that he simply was our fabulous son and we will love him forever,’ his father added.
He also offered his condolences to Andrew’s parents Bebhinn and Gavin.
‘We forged the closest of friendships through our joint journey through what has only been a nightmare over the last week,’ he said.
Andrew’s funeral will be held in the same church on Wednesday.
Max’s mother read the poem Funeral Blues by WH Auden at the service, before delivering her own tribute to her son.
‘Max, our darling boy, we love you forever. We miss you dreadfully. You were a force of nature and your memory will live on,’ she said.
Those gathered applauded after the parents’ tributes.
Earlier, his classmates took symbols to the front of the church to represent his life. Among them was a Manchester United shirt with his name on the back, a signed Leinster rugby jersey and a pool cue.
A megaphone symbolising the passion with which he supported the teams he loved was also presented.
The teenager’s parents took religious symbols forward to signify their son’s strong faith, while his brother Charlie delivered a reading.
St Michael’s College chaplain, Fr Paddy Moran, who celebrated the graduation ceremony attended by Max two months ago, was the principal celebrant at his requiem mass.
He reflected on the ceremony for the school leavers who were about to start a new chapter in their lives.
‘It was a joyous occasion,’ he said.
‘I looked out at this sea of faces ready to embark on the next stage of their lives as young adults – young, energetic men ready to take on the world.
‘It never occurred to me that we would be gathered two months later for the funeral of Max. It is heartbreaking to be gathered in this most tragic of circumstances.
‘Our hearts are broken.’
In the days following Max and Andrew’s tragic deaths, hundreds of ‘traumatised’ Irish teens were desperate to leave the party island.
School principal Tim Kelleher said at the time: ‘They all want to leave. They were traumatised and people were saying I want to get home.
‘South Dublin is a small parish, all the schools know each other, they play against each other, they are friends with each other, there are older siblings and friends all over the area who are deeply devastated.’
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