A heartbroken Limerick father has paid a tearful tribute to his late son after the 15-year-old tragically died of cancer.
Dad Ray O'Halloran delivered a beautiful speech – the type no parent should have to make – at the funeral of Rian, who passed away on Tuesday from osteosarcoma.
There wasn't a dry eye in St John's Cathedral, Limerick, after Ray hailed the "bravery, fight and determination" of a teen who has received tributes from all over the county.
Describing his son's battle with cancer – which saw him lose a leg to amputation – Ray wept: "This hero of ours met the challenge the only way he knew – head on."
The St Clement's student received treatment for the devastating illness – which doctors told the family thrives in healthy, sporting young men – at Crumlin Children's Hospital.
Described by his dad as a young man who "deserves to be talked about for the ages", Rian was a talented athlete and a stalwart of Shelbourne AFC and St Mary's RFC.
Both clubs have added their well-wishes to the chorus of voices heaping praise on the young man, who was also a talented dancer.
In a heartbreaking anecdote, Ray said that on the day he was due to have his leg amputated, Rian "turned to his distraught mother and said: 'Mam, mam, no matter what happens we’ll get through this together.'
"There and then I knew I was in the presence of truly an exceptional man, who was more concerned with reassuring his mother than his own self-pity.
"Rian was truly a fantastic, special young man," Ray concluded, before being met with a thunderous round of applause from those assembled in the church.
During his illness, friends of Rian raised more than €50,000 as part of the Miles4Rian campaign to help his family pay to adapt their home.
