They flanked the Main Street of the village of Drumconrath, Co Meath; two stationary and protective rows of green and yellow tractors, some 40 of them forming a guard of honour.
They were facing St Peter and Paul’s Church, where the funeral of Alan McCluskey (23) was due to take place at 10am.
The tractors all belonged to McCluskey’s friends and colleagues, who had parked them in tribute and solidarity to the young man who was one of five young friends to die in a car crash in Co Louth last Saturday night. Each one had a customised name plate in the cab window.
“Alan. Forever 23,” they read.
RM Block
President Catherine Connolly and Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee, a Meath East TD, attended the requiem Mass in the small church, along with Alan’s family and many friends.
Crowds spilt out into the church grounds, the primary school car park, the parish hall and on to the Main Street itself, all standing stoic in the bitter morning chill.
The Mass was celebrated by two brothers, Fr Finian and Fr Alo Connaughton.
Fr Finian told the congregation that Alan had obeyed the Fourth Commandment.
“He adored his mother and father,” he said.
Martin and Bernie McCluskey bent their heads together. Alan was their youngest child and only son. Nearby sat their three daughters, Sharon, Tracey, and Kellie.
“Alan was a precious son, a caring brother and a trustworthy friend,” Fr Finian said.
Six white trays of gifts were brought to the altar, each representing a different part of Alan’s short but richly-lived life.
There were photographs of his family and his girlfriend Chloe McGee (23), who also died in the crash. His work in farming and construction was represented by his hard hat and work boots. His favourite “night out” Barbour shirt, photos of friends and a pint glass represented his social life, and there was a model plane, a camera, a pair of sandals and a plane ticket from a recent trip to Dubai to show his love of travel.
There were also his drumsticks and a Luke Combs record, and small toy cows to show his connection to the land and farming.
Fr Finian captured something of the shock the community had experienced after the events of last Saturday when he said: “Even as we carry out the funeral rituals there is still an air of disbelief, incomprehension that this is happening to someone who sat in these benches two Sundays ago, someone we saw driving his van up the street a very short time ago.”
As Alan’s parents walked up the aisle to bring the offertory gifts, Mr McCluskey balanced the tray of wine and water in his left hand and put his right arm around his wife. They proceeded together to the altar as a tight, grief-stricken, dignified unit.
Sharon McCluskey sang a piercing clear and haunting rendition of In the Arms of an Angel. She also spoke at the end of the Mass, with a short, poignant tribute to a son and brother.
“You were born from the finest threads carefully woven through the love our parents and sisters sewed into you from the moment you came into this world,” she said.
“The same hands that learned to work hard from his father; that carried tools and hopes alike; that embraced his mother and sisters; and pet the dogs on quiet mornings. And held many hands to ensure the perfect jive ... You took our best parts with you and somehow left them all behind now stitched into everything that we do.”
After the funeral service, Alan’s coffin was carried out of the church and along Main Street, through the guard of honour of tractors, to the local graveyard.
The funeral of another of the five friends, Dylan Commins (23), takes place on Friday afternoon. The funerals of Ms McGee, Shay Duffy (21) and Chloe Hipson (21) will follow in the coming days.
