Monday, February 17, 2025

North Westmeath united in grief at sudden passing of Sarah Bardon (13)

By Paul O’Donovan

THE entire communities of Collin­stown, Fore, Multy-­ farnham and all of north Westmeath were united in grief this week at the sudden passing of 13-year-old Sarah Bardon.
Sarah from Glenidan, Collinstown, died on Wednesday last, 29 March, after a very sudden short illness. Her passing came as a massive shock to her family, her friends and all who knew her.
Sarah was much loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing her, and she packed so much into her short but very active life.
Sarah had grown up in Glenidan and had attended Collinstown National Sc-hool. Last September she began her second level education in St Oliver Plunkett’s Post Primary School in Oldcastle.
Just last Friday week, 24 March, Sarah was in St Oliver Plunkett’s school and was getting ready for PE class when she suddenly felt unwell. She became ill and was taken to Cavan General Hospital and later Sarah was transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. Initially, there was hope that she would make a recovery, but sadly her situation further deteriorated.
On Wednesday, 29 March, the terrible news swept through Collinstown, north Westmeath and Oldcastle, that Sarah had sadly passed away, at the tender age of 13.
The entire area of north Westmeath was numbed. Numbed that someone so young, so full of life, so active and so much loved, had passed away so suddenly.
On Wednesday, teenagers and their parents gathered in Collinstown at the Church and were welcomed and given space to share their emotions.
On Thursday evening last, Fr. Patrick Donnelly PP of Collinstown and Fore, with the help of local people, arranged for Sarah’s friends and their family members to meet at Collinstown Church where they could talk and be helped come to terms with the sad passing of Sarah and where they could pray for their departed companion.
Outside in the green area balloons were released in her memory, friends gathered and chatted and prayed, and made a scrapbook of their memories of Sarah, to be presented to her family. Then everyone entered the church where they lit candles and said prayers and sang hymns and Fr. Donnelly spoke of how “Sarah had gone to meet God”.
Many clubs and groups of which Sarah was a member paid tribute to her on social media during the week.
SHOCK AND
SADNESS
On Saturday morning last there was a huge sense of loss in the village of Fore as Sarah’s remains were brought to St Feichin’s Church Fore for her funeral Mass, in the church where, just a matter of days earlier Sarah had been an enthusiastic member of the Fore choir.
A huge crowd of mourners gathered inside St Feichin’s Church, while hundreds more stood outside, to pay their respects, sympathise with the Bardon family and listen to Fr. Donnelly talk about Sarah’s very short, but very full life.
Fr. Donnelly began by sympathising with the Bardon family -parents Bernadine and Brendan, and Sarah’s brothers – Conor, Thomas and James – describing how each funeral has its own particular sadness and heartache, but the death of such a young person is one of great sorrow, not just for the family, but for the whole community. “That is why we have been praying together as a community, since Thursday evening, when we gathered in Collinstown Church. It is so important that we are all here for each other, particularly for Sarah’s family and young friends at this time”.
“There was a tremendous outpouring of prayer last Thursday. The Church in Collinstown was packed for two hours, as young people gathered in sorrow and tears and also in laughter – as they remembered the happy times they shared with Sarah. It is clear the entire community are doing their best to support the Bardon family at this time. The loss of someone we loved, who has meant so much to us, is a shattering experience. The Bardon family have suffered a great loss but all that are gathered here feel your pain, and we are here to support you, not just today, but in the weeks and months ahead”.
Fr Donnelly then welcomed Sarah’s friends and staff members from St Oliver Plunkett’s Oldcastle, particularly Mr Brendan Corcoran, Principal of St Oliver’s and also her friends and the pupils and staff of Collinstown National School, a school Sarah had left just last June.
He also welcomed the priests who travelled to concelebrate the Mass with him and the members of St Feichin’s Choir, of which Sarah was a member. The choir’s beautiful hymns, were much appreciated, led by the excellent singing of Siobhan Murphy.
“We are gathered here in St Feichin’s Church where Sarah received the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation,” Fr. Donnelly told the assembly.
“We don’t like to see a flower die before it has a time to bloom, especially when the flower in question is a young person. We are deeply saddened and may be even angered by the death of Sarah, but the one consolation we have is that Sarah is now safe in the hands of God and it is to God we turn to in our grief and in our anger and heartache”.
SARAH’S VERY ACTIVE LIFE REMEMBERED
Sarah’s short but very active life was recalled during the presentation of gifts with many items symbolsing the great life Sarah enjoyed.
Catherine Daly introduced each of the gifts, which were brought to the altar by Sarah’s friends in a very moving tribute.
Catherine said, “Sarah loved sport and to symbolise this we have a hurley, a hurley helmet and a football. Sarah was involved in ‘Gaelic For Girls’ in Ballycomoyle and loved it. She was also a member of Lough Lene Gaels Camogie Club since she was under 8 and was a valued member of the current under 14 squad, and recently got the opportunity to play in Croke Park, which she loved.
Sarah had a great love for music and today the music book symbolises her love of music. She played piano and guitar, and she loved being a member of the Lir Music Academy Ukulele Band.
Sarah was a valued member of the Lough Lene Set Dancers from the time of its formation seven years ago. With the set dancers Sarah enjoyed much success, winning Leinster titles in Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann and a county Scór na nÓg title with Ballycomoyle in 2016. Her set dancing shoes and a cup, which the group won last summer in Ballynacargy, were brought forward to the altar as symbols of her involvement with the group.
Sarah was an avid swimmer. Her swimming goggles and cap were brought up as gifts. She clocked up long distances every week in Mullingar Swimming Pool.
Sarah’s school bag and hoodie represented how she valued her education very highly. She loved to do well in school. She was a much loved pupil in St Mary’s Primary School Collinstown. She had settled very well into secondary school in St Oliver Plunkett’s Post Primary School in Oldcastle.
A highly valued member of the Church Choir in St Feichin’s Church Fore for years, her hymn symbolised this.
Sarah loved animals and in particular her beloved dogs – a dog lead was brought to the altar to represent this. Her family was very important to Sarah. She adored her parents and her brothers and they adored her. A family photo was brought up to represent this.
When Sarah was young she loved to dress up. In recent years Sarah had developed a love for fashion and for looking well. A dress which Sarah wore last Christmas was brought forward.
In addition to her love for music and singing, Sarah enjoyed performing on stage. She took part in the drama group productions for a number of years and a drama DVD was brought forward to represent this.
Sarah was a valued member of Lough Lene Gaels Camogie Club. The cup, which the team won last year, which Sarah was a member of, was brought forward.
All of these symbols which were brought forward gave a flavor of the vibrant short life Sarah led,” said Catherine.
ORGAN DONOR
During his homily Fr. Donnelly said, “Sarah was born on the 20 May 2003. Sarah loved life and she loved it all the more when with her family and friends. She loved cooking and was a very talented piano player and ukulele player and had a beautiful voice. Sarah was, and continues to be, a gift from God. Because of Sarah, four other people who had no hope of a future are alive today and we pray will live for many many years to come due to her donating her organs. But God has decided now to call Sarah to heaven and while we are sad, Sarah is safe and no harm or worry can ever touch her. She is happy and full of joy and she is safe and hopefully in time this will bring us comfort. Sarah lived life to the full and she would want us to do the same. That would be the best way to honour Sarah,” said Fr. Donnelly.
FUNERAL CORTEGE
After the hundreds of mourners had sympathised with the Bardon family more prayers were said and hymns sung before Sarah’s remains, in the beautiful white coffin was carried from the church.
Many people, young and old wept, unable to hold back their tears and the funeral cortege made its quiet sombre journey from St Feichin’s Church Fore to St Andrew’s Cemetery in Multyfarnham where the burial took place.
Sarah was the much loved daughter of Bernadine (Keogh) and Brendan, and adored sister of Conor, Thomas and James and cherished granddaughter of Kitty (Keogh) and Rita (Bardon). She will be very sadly missed by her heartbroken parents, brothers, grandparents, aunts, un-cles, cousins, relatives and her many school friends.
May she ‘Sleep in the arms of Angels’.

read_more
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Woohoo! Your subscription has been successful!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

TOP STORIES

MORE STORIES