Support is pouring in for Shane Byrne and his family after they suffered the loss of two relatives within days.
The former rugby player announced on Tuesday that he had a ‘rough couple of days ahead’ with two funerals happening.
Sharing his loved one’s RIP.ie notices, Shane wrote: ‘Rough couple of days ahead for our family. Firstly lost one of the matriarchs of our family, Auntie Veronica Freeman. A lady in the truest sense of the word.
‘A walking library regarding our rich family history and a great storyteller, mind you if she started one, settle in! It’s going to have a LOT of detail and also full commentary on things that have nothing to do with the story she’s telling you, a joy! Both herself and these stories will be sorely missed.’
He then spoke about his uncle, writing: ‘Next incredibly, we’ve also lost one of the great characters of our family, our Uncle Brian Byrne. Known as one of the great tourists over many a Rugby trip.
'He had the ability to be in a country for what seemed like minutes and already everybody knew him and he would know all the best places to go, could never figure that one out!! So long Bonzo, we’ll miss you.
‘The only comfort we have is that they both went very peacefully and surrounded by their families. May they both Rest in Peace, our families will not be the same without them.’
Veronica’s funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, October 1 at 11am in The Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, and was followed by a burial in Deansgrange Cemetery.
Brian’s funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon to St. Oliver Plunkett Church, Blackrock, arriving for Mass at 2pm with brial afterwards in St. Fursey’s Cemetery, Haggardstown.
Dozens of people sent their thoughts to Shane and his family in the comments, with one person writing: ‘May they both rest in peace. Shane you'll have to keep passing on the stories of the family.’
Another wrote: ‘Shane, I’m so sorry to learn of this. Sending love to all the clan in Aughrim.'
