Family relatives carry the remains of Kian Dawson at his funeral in Derry’s Carnhill. Pictures by Donal Dunn/North West Newspix
Teenager Kian Dawson, described as a “quiet and unassuming”, sadly died along with his cousin Eóghan Dawson (20) last Saturday night when their Renault Clio car crashed at Cross, Quigley’s Point when the vehicle hit a wall.
Kían was a front seat passenger while Eoghán was driving the car.
Leaving the 16-year-old’s home in the Carnhill area of the city on Thursday, Kian’s white coffin had an emblem of club Don Bosco’s on it as it was carried to St Brigid’s Church for his Requiem Mass.
A fundraiser in memory of the pair has now gathered over £25,000 to be shared between the heartbroken families.
The organisers said a trip to a favourite place had turned into “a living nightmare”, appealing for donations to pay funeral costs. The cousins would remain “forever young”, they said.
Cousins Eoghan (20) and Kian Dawson (16) perished in weekend Donegal crash
Don Bosco’s Football Club earlier paid tribute to young footballer Kian, who was been involved with the club since he was five years old.
They said he was “the most genuine, well-mannered, and unassuming young lad you could ever meet” and suspended club activities in the near future.
The club also posted a statement in his memory on social media this evening, stating “our hearts are sore today” after the news emerged earlier this week.
“We awoke this morning to the sad news that young Kian Dawson, a player in our 2007 group since the age of 5, had sadly passed after a road traffic accident last night in Donegal,” they said.
“Kian and his father Emmett (a coach with our 2007’s) have been an integral part of our club for many years and have given us many wonderful and happy memories that we will cherish forever.
“Kian was the most genuine, well-mannered and unassuming young lad you could meet. He was a credit to Don Boscos but more importantly to his mum and dad, Fiona and Emmett.”
“Kian will be forever remembered by his coaches, teammates and friends at Don Bosco’s. We are also thinking of you all at this heart breaking time.
“We send our love and deepest condolences to Kian’s parents Emmett and Fiona, his sister Abigail and to the wider Kirk and Dawson families.
“As a mark of respect, all Don Boscos club activities including training and matches will be called off for this coming week.”
During the Requiem Mass, parish priest, Fr Sean O’Donnell, described Kían as someone who “genuinely cared for everyone he met, from every and any walk of life”.
He also said he was an individual that “brought the craic and the fun to his friend group” and that he perfectly encapsulated “the ultimate likeable rogue”.
Fr O’Donnell told mourners that Kían was beloved by his parents, grandparents, his sister, and his large group of friends.
Mourners heard that he was about to embark on a new journey as he had found a profession he loved in barbering, one he was incredibly talented in and passionate about.
The symbols of Kían brought forward before the start of the mass included his photograph, a road sign for White Hart Lane, a pennant from Don Bosco’s FC, and a Derry City FC top, signed by all the players, demonstrating his passionate love of football.
Fr O’Donnell imparted a number of stories about the 16-year-old that perfectly encapsulated his funny character, which mourners greeted with laughter as they recollected upon the memories.
“If you dared him to do something, he was guaranteed to do it,” he said.
“As a dare, he re-enacted the scene from Elf and managed to snap the St Columb’s College Christmas Tree in half.
“I’m told he once walked from his granny and grandad Dawson’s house to his own house with a pair of shorts on his head because his granddad Micky dared him to do it for a fiver.
“He used to do wee skits in the house and perform wee shows and dress up as superheroes when younger, and they were all hilarious.
“He was infectious and made everyone he met laugh.”
Fr O’Donnell spoke about the love he had for every member of his family and the pride he held for each of his friends.
The parish priest, on behalf of the family, thanked everyone that had been in attendance for the funeral, supported them over the past few days since the tragic incident, and thanked the various representatives from the football clubs that meant the world to Kían and the schools around Derry, particularly St Patrick’s and St. Columb’s College, where he attended.
Kían was laid to rest at St Mary’s Cemetery, Rushall Road, Ardmore, following the Requiem Mass.
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