Trae Keenan sadly died after he became unwell at a property in South Belfast on Sunday
There is “pain, loss and sorrow” following the death of young dad who passed away following a music festival in Belfast, mourners at his funeral heard on Friday.
Trae Keenan sadly died after he became unwell at a property in South Belfast on Sunday, following the Emerge Festival that had taken place that day. Another young person, 17-year-old Mia Keevan from Co Tipperary, also sadly died on Sunday evening after she became unwell at the festival.
Mourners at Requiem Mass for young father-of-one Trae Keenan at the Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Newcastle on Friday heard how his life had “became good” when he met his partner and became a “loving father to baby Mason”.
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A 24-year-old former St Malachy’s High School pupil, he was described in a moving homily on Friday as an “adventurous young man” who had enjoyed various pursuits including “jiujitsu, horse riding, and boxing” before focussing his sporting talents on football as “top goal scorer and player of the year” with his local club.
He was also described as a “faithful and loyal Celtic and Man United supporter” during the homily. “He loved his adventures with his friends, which also led to them being very boisterous together. He also loved being an uncle to Harper and Fiadh, being best in the company of his family and friends.
“He worked as a chef recently, a valued member of staff, dedicated and hardworking member of staff with a kindness of character,” mourners at the funeral heard on Friday morning
“Life became good when he met his partner, Tiffany, and he became a loving father to baby Mason. Whilst enjoying his festival time, sadly he lost his life.
“When someone like Trey dies at so young an age, we grapple and grasp to try and understand. We are traumatized often beyond the boundaries of grief and we become lost and consumed with so many questions. We grieve for what could have been, what should have been, as well as grieving the loss of the person, and we get caught up in the jagged pain of life.
“But to think like that would imply that the whole worth of a person lay in the future, a future that has now been cut short. And that’s not true, for if we thought like that, we would be missing the fragrant petals of the beauty of life. We also know that no experience or suffering in this life is wasted. All things are made new in God.”
The priest added: “For we read in the scriptures that not even a tiny sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing and we should never be afraid of anything as we are worth more than many sparrows. We should trust God to whom Trae is loved, a God who will embrace him into his loving arms and allow him to heal and grow to his full potential in the rich soils of heaven, the fullness of eternal life where God has prepared a place for him.”
Following the service, he was taken for burial at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Bryansford.
Trae Keenan was described in a family notice as “dearly beloved son of Pamela and John and cherished father of Mason, loving brother of Shanice, Tyler, Claire and Toni and loving partner of Tiffany, uncle to Harper and Fiadh, grandson of Gerry and Geraldine.”
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