Ballinaclose pays tribute to young local musician

The community in Ballinaclose, Kilmainhamwood, has paid its own tribute to a young man who died in a violent incident in Co Monaghan in early June. Gavin O'Connor, a 22-year-old musician and son of Gerard and Helena O'Connor, died on 4th June last following an alleged assault at Lisdoonan, Carricmacross. On Monday night this week, family members, including Gavin's parents, sister Judith and brother Patrick, Gavin's girlfriend Aoife Boylan and her family, friends of Gavin and the local community participated in an open-air Mass celebrated by Kingscourt parish priest, Fr Gerry MacCormack, on the green at Ballinaclose. Gavin had played with the band Climax and its members were represented at Monday's event. Lead singer of the Mad Max heavy metal band, John McMahon, along with guitarist, Barry McMahon (cousins of Gavin), and bass guitarist Fergal Quigley, provided music during the ceremony and played for an appreciative audience afterwards. David Daly, drummer with Climax and friend of Gavin's, played with the Mad Max Band at the ceremony. The Mass was originally arranged for this Thursday but had to be brought forward because Gavin's sister Judith and family are on their way back to their home in Australia. The family apologised to those who missed the Mass because of the necessity to change the date. Judith said yesterday (Tuesday) that an occasional Mass was celebrated on the green but Monday night's Mass was especially in memory of Gavin. "It was a very nice tribute but it was very sombre as well. It was really nice to see so many of Gavin's friends turning up. It was a great comfort to his family who love him and will never forget him," she said. "He might be gone but he will never be forgotten," she added. She said the family was particularly delighted to see all of Gavin's young nephews and nieces dancing on the green after the Mass. After Gavin's death in June, his heartbroken father told how Gavin's young friends had gathered around his hospital bed in Drogheda in the hours before his death. Gerry O'Connor said: "Gavin had a circle of friends from the time he was in nappies in playschool and they remained his friends all through these years. "When they heard what happened to Gavin, they all went to the emergency department of the Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and they sat outside all day long." He said that every photograph taken of Gavin always had him at the centre, smiling. "He was a brilliant guitarist - he just lived for music. In fact, it was his life." Judith said this week that the family had been heartbroken at the time of Gavin's death and they remained heartbroken. A man is on remand charged with assault, causing serious harm, to Gavin O'Connor.