Tragic Joshua Hill will be remembered as "a gift of love, life, light and joy," his funeral mass heard today.
The 10-year-old passed away on Thursday after a tragic drowning accident in his home in Carlingford, Co Louth.
Mourners packed St Michael’s Church, Carlingford this morning to pay their respects to the much loved boy.
At the start of the mass, family and friends brought items that symbolised parts of his life to the altar.
They included his blanket, Disney movies, a jigsaw, an iPad, his red musical toy and a Christmas toy "to remind everyone of how Joshua loved getting into the spirit of Christmas and all things Christmas."
In his homily Fr Brian Mac Raois said: "Nothing can take away from the sadness of death. Nothing can take away from the sadness of the death of a young child.
“Yet in our sadness and in our grief, we who believe that life comes from God and returns to God, we give thanks to God for Joshua.
“We thank God for the wonder that Joshua was and is. I know for his parents Peter and Olivia, Joshua was a gift of love and life and light and joy.
“Joshua was non-verbal but he had his words for what he wanted and what he liked.”
He said he communicated “non-verbally and very powerfully and from that inner purity there radiated an energy that was beautiful, a bright light that was always shining, a joy that was infectious.”
Fr Mac Raois added: “Joshua was happy, he was joyful, he was happy in himself, he was happy in his family, he was happy in his home, he was happy in Rathore school, he was happy in the Maria Goretti Centre.”
He explained how one of Joshua’s words was ‘tickle’ and how he loved to be loved.
“Joshua's life in this world was short, it was wordless for the most part,” he said.
Tragic Joshua was laid to rest after the mass in St Michael’s cemetery.
Meanwhile, a file will be prepared for the Coroner in relation to his death.
